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Biomedical subjects

W Werner

Publications and source records attributed to W Werner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Urologic complications after kidney transplantation (II)].

Urological complications after renal transplantation are often responsible for postoperative morbidity and mortality in spite of a decrease in incidence and severity of such complications in the last decades. It is of particular interest to detect this complications early and to treat them in an adequate manner especially in regard to the increasing lack of human organs for transplantation. The number of transplanted patients in the population is still increasing and they are treated not only in transplant centers but also by general practitioners, nephrologists and urologists in private consultings. This necessitates a survey about the most important complications including diagnostics and therapeutic options. Measures of prevention and early detection are taken into account. Questions concerning impotence and incontinence are discussed in detail. Attention must be paid to the fact of immunosuppression and its peculiarities in transplanted patients. In this way the outcome of patients and transplants can be prolonged.

Female↗
PubMed1997

A small deletion of 16q23.1-->16q24.2 [del(16)(q23.1q24.2).ish del(16)(q23.1q24.2)(D16S395+, D16S348-, P5432+)] in a boy with iris coloboma and minor anomalies.

We report on a 5-year-old boy with bilateral coloboma of iris, short stature, moderate developmental delay, and a few minor craniofacial anomalies. High-resolution GTG banding showed a small distal deletion of one chromosome 16 [del(16)(q23.1q24.2)]. Molecular refinement of the deletion breakpoints yielded that the proximal breakpoint at 16q23.1 is located between loci D16S395 (present) and D16S348 (absent). Comparison with previously published cases of deletion 16q demonstrated that the clinical phenotype is not a recognizable 16q- syndrome and different from the two cases of deletions of 16(q22.1 to q24.1) described by Callen et al. [1993]. Evidently, deletion 16(q23.1q24.2) has a milder phenotypic effect than other interstitial and distal 16q deletions.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1997

Arm-movement-related neurons in the primate superior colliculus and underlying reticular formation: comparison of neuronal activity with EMGs of muscles of the shoulder, arm and trunk during reaching.

Neuronal activity was recorded from the superior colliculus (SC) and the underlying reticular formation in two monkeys during an arm reaching task. Of 744 neurons recorded, 389 (52%) clearly modulated their activity with arm movements. The temporal activity patterns of arm-movement-related neurons often had a time course similar to rectified electromyograms (EMGs) of particular muscles recorded from the shoulder, arm or trunk. These reach cells, as well as the muscles investigated, commonly exhibited mono- or biphasic (less frequently tri- or polyphasic) excitatory bursts of activity, which were related to the (pre-)movement period, the contact phase and/or the return movement. The vast majority of reach cells exhibited a consistent activity pattern from trial to trial as did most of the muscles of the shoulder, arm and trunk. Similarities between the activity patterns of the neurons and the muscles were sometimes very strong and were especially notable with the muscles of the shoulder girdle (e.g. trapezius descendens, supraspinatus, infraspinatus or the anterior and medial deltoids). This high degree of co-activation suggests a functional linkage, though not direct, between the collicular reach cells and these muscles. Neuronal activity onset was compared with that of 25 muscles of the arms, shoulders and trunk. The majority of cells (78.5%) started before movement onset with a mean lead time of 149+/-90 ms, and 36.5% were active even before the earliest EMG onset. The neurons exhibited the same high degree of correlation (r=0.97, Spearman rank) between activity onset and the beginning of the arm movement as did the muscles (r=0.98) involved in the task. The mean neuronal reach activity (background subtracted) ranged between 7 and 193 impulses/s (mean 40.5+/-24.2). The mean modulation index calculated [(reach activity background activity)/reach activity+background activity)] was 0.75+/-0.23 for neurons (n=358) and 0.87+/-0.14 for muscles (n=25). As the monkeys fixated the reach target constantly during an arm movement, neuronal activity which was modulated in this period was not related to eye movements. The three neck muscles investigated in the reach task exhibited no reach-related activity modulation comparable to that of either the reach cells or the muscles of the shoulder, arm and trunk. However, tonic neck muscle EMG was monotonically related to horizontal eye position. The clear skeletomotor discharge characteristics of arm-movement-related SC neurons revealed in this study agree with those already known from other sensorimotor regions (for example the primary motor, the premotor and parietal cortex, the basal ganglia or the cerebellum) and are consistent with the possible role of this population of reach cells in the control of arm movements.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Anatomical distribution of arm-movement-related neurons in the primate superior colliculus and underlying reticular formation in comparison with visual and saccadic cells.

We recorded from 389 "reach" neurons (two monkeys) in the superior colliculus (SC) and underlying reticular formation (RF) or adjacent periaqueductal grey, whose activity was related to visually guided arm movements. Reach neurons were present from approximately 0.7 mm down to a depth of 6 mm below the surface of the SC (mean 3.7+/-1.3, n=389). Although this mean distribution was different from that of cells with visual (mean depth 1.7+/-1.4 mm, n=283) or saccadic responses (mean depth 2.0+/-1.4 mm, n=232), there was a large amount of overlap. Fifty-five per cent of all reach cells (213/389) were assumed to be located inside the SC. The others were considered to be located in the underlying RF. The characteristics of visual responses and saccadic bursts (e.g. response latencies, discharge rates, burst durations) of arm-movement-related neurons were not different from those of typical visual or saccade cells in the SC. Although reach neurons could be recorded in a large area of the SC, they were found more often in the lateral than in the medial parts (chi-squared=19.3, P<0.001). Possible pathways by which arm-movement-related neuronal activity in and below the SC might gain access to spinal motor structures are discussed. The location of arm-movement-related neurons described in this study is in accordance with the known target areas of skeletomotor-related corticotectal projections and with the sites of origin of tectofugal pathways. It is concluded that this population of reach cells is in a position to relay and transmit limb movement information to the spinal motor system, where it may influence (or interact with) motor commands coming from other motor centres.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Population coding of arm-movement-related neurons in and below the superior colliculus of Macaca mulatta.

It has been shown for the motor cortex of primates, that an arm trajectory is coded as a population vector formed by many neurons with activities correlated with arm movements. Recently, neurons in the primate superior colliculus that also display activities related to arm movements have been described. In the present paper we show that a subpopulation of this type of neuron is able to code for limb movement by the population vector. However, the cosine function cannot describe these neurons adequately. Rather the Fisher distribution yields a much better description of arm-movement-related cells in the superior colliculus.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Preoperative aspirin therapy--a contraindication for kidney transplantation?].

INTRODUCTION: The influence of ASA treatment on haemostasis is still debated. There are doubts in case of emergency operations, especially in transplant patients, concerning dosage and change of medication. METHODS: Our results are based on an analysis of the therapeutical behavior in German transplantation centers. The question of transplant suitability, dosage and haemostatic effects will be discussed in comparison to the literature. RESULTS: 85.7% of the transplantation centers perform the operation despite of and under ASA treatment. In these cases an increased bleeding tendency is tolerated and observed in 33.3% of the centers. An increased mortality has not been reported. Most of the transplantation centers accept a dosage of 100 mg ASA daily. Only 14.3% of the transplantation centers refuse the operation in ASA treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Correctly indicated ASA treatment (cardiac arrhythmia, patients with embolism or thrombosis) isn't a contraindication for renal transplantation (daily dosage up to 100 mg). In elective cases however, a preoperative change of the medication is recommended, e.g. the use of heparin instead of ASA.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1996

Induratio penis plastica--a factor of erectile dysfunction?

There are still diverse management options in Peyronie's disease and diverse opinions about the coincidence of Peyronie's disease and erectile dysfunction as well. The connection between Peyronie's disease and ED has been proved by some papers but on the other hand authors have refused to accept this claim. We have found erectile dysfunction in about 30% of our patients. We investigated 61 patients with Peyronie's disease. As diagnostic criteria assessment of angulation and erectile dysfunction are proposed. The tunica albuginea plication technique was used in 35 patients with good results. In our investigation we did not find any coincidence of Peyronie's disease with erectile dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Transient thrombotic state after abrupt discontinuation of heparin in percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

Clinical and biochemical evidence of a rebound phenomenon after discontinuing thrombin inhibitors has been reported in patients with unstable angina. To investigate if a similar phenomenon occurs in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, 14 patients were prospectively studied during and after discontinuation of heparin infusion. A transient thrombotic state identified by a significant increase in a polypeptide fragment and fibrinopeptide A was observed 3 hours after abruptly discontinuing heparin infusion. This observation may be clinically important in managing patients after coronary angioplasty.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Delineation of a contiguous gene syndrome with multiple exostoses, enlarged parietal foramina, craniofacial dysostosis, and mental retardation, caused by deletions in the short arm of chromosome 11.

A contiguous gene syndrome due to deletions of the proximal short arm of chromosome 11 is described in eight patients belonging to four families. The main clinical features are multiple exostoses, enlarged parietal foramina, craniofacial dysostosis, and mental retardation. The patients have cytogenetic and/or molecular deletions of chromosome 11p11-p13. These deletions are located between the centromere and D11S914 in a region of approximately 20cM. The present study confirms the presence of a multiple exostoses gene on chromosome 11p. Furthermore, it suggests that the gene for isolated foramina parietalie permagna and genes associated with craniofacial dysostosis and mental retardation reside in the same chromosomal region.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1996

[Blood collection from central venous catheter--valid also for blood coagulation analysis?].

OBJECTIVE: Blood samples obtained from centralvenous catheters are commonly used on intensive care units. In this paper the question of valid conditions for sampling blood coagulation parameters of patients with heparinised catheters is examined and the data are compared with the literature. STUDY DESIGN: Blood samples were obtained at the same time as well via centralvenous catheters as from the periphery. The results of the examination were compared to each other. RESULTS: After the aspiration of 10 ml of blood via centralvenous catheters there were no differences between peripheral and central obtained samples as regards blood coagulation parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Genomic mapping and sequence analysis of the fowl adenovirus serotype 10 hexon gene.

The gene for the major capsid protein (hexon) of fowl adenovirus serotype 10 (FAV-10) has been identified by the use of the expression vector pGEX and rabbit polyclonal antisera raised against FAV-10. The nucleotide sequence of the entire hexon gene has been determined. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 2808 bp coding for a putative polypeptide 936 amino acids long with a molecular mass of 105.5 kDa. The translation initiation codon has a local sequence which conforms with the optimal translation start sequence of CC(A/G)CCATGG. The location of the hexon gene in the FAV genome was from 46.85 to 52.81 map units, which is to the left of the hexon gene in the genomes of both bovine and human adenovirus (52.4 to 60.5 map units.). A splice acceptor site was identified 12 bp upstream of the initiation codon by using mRNA and PCR. It had the sequence TAGG which conforms to the consensus sequence of (C/T)AGG. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the FAV-10 hexon with those of the bovine, human and murine hexon gene products revealed highest levels of identity occurring in the regions corresponding to the pedestals which form the base region of the hexon, and the lowest levels of identity in the regions corresponding to the loops which are exposed to the external environment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

[Blood specimen collection from central venous catheters--reliable also for blood coagulation analysis?].

Blood probes obtained from the central-venous catheter are common methods on intensive care units. In the present paper, the conditions for obtaining blood samples for clotting analysis of patients with heparinized catheters are examined and compared to the literature. In these patients, blood samples were drawn simultaneously from central as well as peripher lines. The results of the examination were prospectively compared. After the aspiration of 10 ml blood from centralvenous catheters, there are no differences between peripher and central venous blood samples.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Partial trisomy 16p in an adolescent with autistic disorder and Tourette's syndrome.

A partial trisomy 16p was identified in a 14-year-old male adolescent with autistic disorder. He additionally showed complex motor and vocal phenomena, including some simple tics which had first appeared in childhood. Whereas these simple tics were of subclinical significance, an additional diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome (TS) appears justified. The case report illustrates the diagnostic difficulties in assessing psychiatric symptomatology associated with both disorders, especially complex motor and vocal phenomena. The cytogenetic finding is discussed critically in the light of other chromosome abnormalities reported in both TS and autistic disorder. Chromosome 16p should be considered as a candidate region especially for autistic disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Neurons in the primate superior colliculus are active before and during arm movements to visual targets.

The activity of single neurons in the superior colliculus was recorded while a rhesus monkey made arm movements to visual targets located on a screen in front of him. It was found that the activity of a subpopulation of cells was clearly related to these arm movements. The neurons began to discharge either with the onset of the movement, during the movement period, or well before the onset of electromyogram (EMG) activity and movement, and could be active for the entire duration of EMG activity. While the discharge pattern of some of these 'reach' neurons was not different for movements to different target positions, other cells showed graded changes in activity depending on the direction of movement. The peak discharge rate could rise to > 100 impulses/s. Some units received somatosensory input; other reach cells exhibited a visual response and/or presaccadic activity. It is likely that the primate superior colliculus is not only involved in the initiation and control of orientating movements of the eyes but also in reaching movements of the arms.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Evidence for a rebound coagulation phenomenon after cessation of a 4-hour infusion of a specific thrombin inhibitor in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVES: In a Phase I clinical trial, we studied the antithrombotic and clinical effects of the synthetic competitive thrombin inhibitor, argatroban, in 43 patients with unstable angina pectoris. BACKGROUND: Thrombin has a pivotal role in platelet-mediated thrombosis associated with atheromatous plaque rupture in patients with an acute ischemic coronary syndrome. However, the efficacy of conventional heparin therapy to prevent ischemic events is limited and has been surpassed by that of specific thrombin inhibitors in experimental models of arterial thrombosis. METHODS: Intravenous infusion of the drug (0.5 to 5.0 micrograms/kg per min) for 4 h was monitored by sequential measurements of coagulation times and of indexes of thrombin activity in vivo followed by a 24-h clinical observation period. RESULTS: Significant dose-related increases in plasma drug concentrations and activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTT), but no bleeding time prolongation or spontaneous bleeding, was observed. Myocardial ischemia did not occur during therapy but, surprisingly, 9 of the 43 patients experienced an episode of unstable angina 5.8 +/- 2.6 h (mean +/- SD) after infusion. This early recurrent angina was correlated significantly with a higher argatroban dose and with greater prolongation of aPTT but not with other demographic, clinical, laboratory and angiographic characteristics. Pretreatment plasma concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin III complex and fibrinopeptide A were elevated two to three times above normal values. During infusion, thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels remained unchanged, whereas a significant 2.3-fold decrease in fibrinopeptide A concentrations was observed. By contrast, 2 h after infusion, thrombin-antithrombin III complex concentrations increased 3.9-fold over baseline measurements together with return of fibrinopeptide A levels to values before treatment with argatroban. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with unstable angina, argatroban inhibits clotting (aPTT prolongation) and thrombin activity toward fibrinogen (fibrinopeptide A decrease), but in vivo thrombin (thrombin-antithrombin III complex) formation is not suppressed. However, cessation of infusion is associated with rebound thrombin (thrombin-antithrombin III complex) generation and with an early dose-related recurrence of unstable angina. Although the mechanism of this clinical and biochemical rebound phenomenon remains to be determined, its implication for the clinical use of specific thrombin inhibitors in the management of ischemic coronary syndromes may be significant.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Effects of three compounds extracted from Morinda lucida on Plasmodium falciparum.

The effects of three compounds, digitolutein (1), rubiadin 1-methyl ether (2) and damnacanthal (3) extracted from the stem bark and the roots of Morinda lucida Benth. on the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro were investigated. The number of parasites (schizonts) decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, and 100% of inhibition was obtained with 30 to 40 micrograms of each compound tested. The IC50 values were calculated.

Animals↗