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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Discriminant function based on serum analytes differentiates hepatocarcinoma from secondary liver neoplasia.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HC) is often difficult to distinguish from secondary liver neoplasia (SLN) by physical and imaging diagnostic procedures alone. To this aim we have extended and improved a laboratory approach based on a serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme ratio (LD4:LD5) by adding the carcinoembryonic antigen: alpha-fetoprotein ratio, alkaline phosphatase, and serum iron concentrations to obtain a highly efficient discriminant function. In two successive cohorts, for a total of 102 patients, all histologically diagnosed, with a prevalence of HC vs SLN of 3:1, we correctly classified 96% of cases (100% of SLN cases). Subsequent verification with the jackknife reallocation statistical algorithm confirmed these results. In conclusion, this discriminant function based on simple laboratory assays of a few analytes is an important tool in solving a diagnostic dilemma in cases of liver neoplasia.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2003

The influence of risperidone on cognitive functions in schizophrenia.

Introduction of the antipsychotics of the second generation (SGA) into the therapy of schizophrenia roused expectations that, finally, the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia could be eliminated by psychopharmacological therapy. The purpose of the study was to verify the effect of atypical antipsychotic risperidone on cognitive functions in schizophrenic patients. The study was carried out upon 48 male schizophrenic patients aged 21-47 years who were switched from the antipsychotics of the first generation (FGA) to the antipsychotic risperidone, due to intolerance, during the treatment. Intelligence, abstract and concrete thinking and mental speed, attention, and short-term non-verbal memory prior to the switch, one month after the switch, and three months after the switch to risperidone, were evaluated. One month after the switch the number of subjects with severe impairment of intellectual abilities decreased significantly from 62% to 15% and after three months the number was even lower-8%. The impairment of concrete and abstract thinking and mental speed also showed the same tendencies of decrease. The improvement of the cognitive functioning after the switch from the antipsychotics of the first generation to the antipsychotic risperidone is explained by removal of the antipsychotics of the first generation from the therapy and the consequential disinhibition of secondary cognitive impairments and by decreased average dose of anticholinergic and decreased number of patients who need anticholinergic therapy beside risperidone. The possibility of clear pro-cognitive effect of risperidone is suggested and its verification is proposed with strict control of other factors that improve cognitive functioning of schizophrenic patients during the treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Endoscopic treatment of midline cerebral cysts.

Axial cerebral cysts of various location and origin are relatively rare lesions. Endoscopic neurosurgery has made them amenable for safe intervention even in vital brain regions. Neuroendoscopic treatment was used by the author in 35 patients during the last 7 years without permanent morbidity or mortality. The aim of the surgery was to fenestrate the cyst or to perform cyst exstirpation to relieve the pressure effect on the surrounding functioning neural tissue and to reestablish the patency of cerebrospinal fluid pathways, as well as histological verification of the cyst origin. Contemporary imaging modalities are capable of diagnostic evaluation, but the detailed anatomical relationship to the surrounding structures can be visually analysed completely together with understanding of their functional effects only during endoscopic surgeries, supported by the results of imaging. Therefore the precision of endoscopic surgeries was substantially enhanced and during the surgery a large amount of knowledge enriching the contemporary information about the cerebrospinal fluid flow through the cerebral ventricular system and blood circulation in the deep cerebral venous system and the relationship of these veins to hydrocephalus was obtained (Tab. 1, Fig. 9, Ref. 11).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Footprint peak time and functional ambulation profile reflect the potential for hemiparetic gait recovery.

OBJECTIVE: Gait disturbances were monitored in patients with chronic stroke with a walkway built with pressure sensors in order to assess whether detailed gait and footprint information could provide verification for the potential for gait recovery. METHODS: Gait variables (footprint peak times, temporal and spatial parameters and Functional Ambulation Profile, FAP, scores), were first recorded in 25 patients with chronic stroke at their preferred speed and 10 healthy volunteers walking from very slow to very fast. Patients and controls were divided into four groups based on the velocity performance. Secondly, the effect of rehabilitation on the footprint peak times was evaluated in another group of 20 chronic stroke patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The footprint peak time behaviour of different patients with chronic stroke reflected their hemiparetic gait pattern. The slower patients had prolonged footprint peak times on the non-affected side (NS) and shorter values on the lateral footprint on the affected side (AS). The increased gait velocity and the FAP scores decreased the footprint peak times on both sides, especially on the NS. The rehabilitation increased the gait velocity with 18.2%, decreased the duration of the mid-foot and forefoot peak times on the NS and the lateral mid-foot peak times on the AS. A detailed analysis of the individual gait performance allows more accurate assessment of the potential for gait recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The molecular control of granulocytes and macrophages.

The proliferation in vitro of granulocytes and macrophages can be regulated by the four colony stimulating factors (CSFs), stem cell factor and interleukin 6, with Flk ligand having a weaker action. Combinations of these glycoprotein regulators produce superadditive proliferative responses. The CSFs also influence commitment, maturation and mature cell functional activity and these various responses are initiated by distinct regions of the individual receptors. The injection of single CSFs into experimental animals or patients reproducibly enhances granulocyte or monocyte formation or function despite the existence of complex interacting networks of regulatory molecules. Verification of the importance of the CSFs for the regulation of basal haemopoiesis has been obtained by analysis of mice in which the genes encoding the CSFs or their receptors have been inactivated. In a casein-induced model of acute inflammatory responses, the migration of neutrophils from the marrow and localization of these cells to the inflammatory site appear not to be CSF-dependent processes even though major increases occur in CSF levels at the inflammatory site.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Detection of ischemic muscle necroses using 99mTc perfusion scintigraphy of traumatized extremities].

In the Dr. Horst-Schmidt Kliniken Wiesbaden 19 patients with trauma of the inferior legs have been examined by means of perfusion-scintigraphy with regard to a compartmental syndrome. In the control group there were twelve Patients without trauma. The employed method of computer assisted analysis of function of blood supply of the extremities in connection with the verification of the 99mTC-MDP amassment in the soft tissues seen in follow-up X-rays allows a differentiation between a normal-blood stream raising caused by a traumatic reparation (C = 1.7 +/- 0.6) and the significant higher blood stream as a result of the development of ischemic muscle lesions (C = 3.8 +/- 1.5). This non-invasive method is not very exert for the patient and is practicable with little expense in a nuclear medicine department. It may not be considered as a routine analysis because the clinical signs are sufficient to show the necessity of an immediate operative intervention in order to avoid a compartmental syndrome.

Anterior Compartment Syndrome↗
PubMed1981

Description and applications of a programmable stimulation system for electrophysiology, used as a computer peripheral.

An original programmable stimulation and data acquisition system of general interest for electrophysiology is presented. It can be used as a peripheral of any 12 (or more) bits mini- or microcomputer. With the software described it is possible to determine stimulation parameters automatically as a function of results obtained during the experiment or from the keyboard. Verification of parameters is carried out by permanent registration on the terminal screen, in numerical and analog form, and by facultative printout from the teleprinter. Two applications in electrophysiology are presented: the measurement of thresholds and the establishment of response curves.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗
PubMed1980

Voice therapy: a need for research.

Studies concerning the effectiveness of voice are lacking. There is little experimental verification that therapy techniques actually achieve specific change in abusive vocal function. Guidelines are presented regarding conceptual and methodological consideration for future investigations. Divergent terminology, philosophy, and issues of voice therapy are presented to serve as an overview and as a basis for research direction. Suggestions are offered for selecting experimental designs.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning of a 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase cDNA from Taxus and functional expression in Escherichia coli.

The cDNA clone for a 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase, which catalyzes formation of the last diterpene intermediate in the Taxol biosynthetic pathway, has been isolated from Taxus cuspidata. By using consensus sequences from an assembly of transacylases of plant origin and from many deduced proteins of unknown function, a homology-based PCR cloning strategy was employed to amplify initially a 911-bp gene fragment of the putative taxane C-10 hydroxyl acetyl transferase from Taxus. This amplicon was used to screen a cDNA library constructed from mRNA isolated from methyl jasmonate-induced Taxus cells, from which the full-length 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-transacetylase sequence was obtained. Expression of the ORF from pCWori(+) in Escherichia coli JM109 afforded a functional enzyme, as determined by (1)H-NMR and MS verification of the product baccatin III derived from 10-deacetylbaccatin III and acetyl CoA. The full-length cDNA has an ORF of 1,320 bp corresponding to a deduced protein of 440 residues with a calculated molecular weight of 49,052, consistent with the size of the operationally soluble, monomeric, native acetyl transferase. The recombinant acetyl transferase has a pH optimum of 7.5, has K(m) values of 10 microM and 8 microM for 10-deacetylbaccatin III and acetyl CoA, respectively, and is apparently regiospecific toward the 10-hydroxyl group of the taxane ring. Amino acid sequence comparison of 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase with taxadienol-5-O-acetyl transferase and with other known acyl transferases of plant origin indicates a significant degree of similarity between these enzymes (80% and 64-67%, respectively).

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1992

Methods for authenticating cell lines.

Methods for authentication of cell lines include tests for microbial contamination, verification of the species of origin, documentation of particular characteristics or functions and the absolute identification of individual cell lines. Experience indicates that mycoplasma contamination is still a serious problem in the cell culture field, with estimates on frequencies of infection varying from 10% upwards. The utilization of pre-screened reagents and antibiotic-free cultivation, plus the application of improved procedures, such as fluorescent dyes and molecular probes for detection, provide effective means to avoid mycoplasma infection and facilitate control. Viral contamination is perhaps more problematic, especially where no overt cytopathic effect results. The potential exists for the introduction of viruses from the cell culture technician or reagents used. Representative problem viruses are listed with standard procedures for screening. Detailed studies on animal cell cross contaminations have been performed and published. The frequency of detection of problem culture varied from 17-36% in studies performed in the USA. Both interspecies and intraspecies contaminations have been involved. Awareness of the potential for this problem plus the application of several characterization procedures are key factors for control. For example, fluorescent antibody staining, iso-enzyme analysis, cytogenetic evaluation and DNA finger-printing using molecular probes are needed for quality assurance on seed stocks. The critical importance of generating well-characterized reference cell stocks for use over the years is emphasized.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Pituitary cytology of the Indian carp Labeo rohita (Ham.).

In the adenohypophysis of Labeo rohita eight cell types could be identified on the basis of their different tinctorial response to various staining techniques. The rostral pars distalis has 3 types of cells. Type 1 is stained with erythrosin, orange G, and acid fuchsin. Type 2 cells are lead hematoxylin positive and give an amphiphilic reaction in response to tri and tetrachrome techniques. Type 3 cells are stainable with PAS, ATh, AB, AF, and aniline blue and are distributed in an area comprises of anteroventral RPD and anterodorsal PPD. Apart from type 3, the PPD has two more cell types. The classical acidophils forming the type 4 cells readily take up orange G, erythrosin and acid fuchsin. Type 5 cells have affinity for PAS, ATh, AB, AF and aniline blue as that of type 3 cells, but they are relatively smaller. Pars intermedia has type 6 and 7 cells which are PbH and lightly PAS + ve respectively. Eight cell type is constituted by the chromophobes which are seen in all the components of the adenohypophysis, they might be the immature or degranulated chromophils. On the basis of colour reactions cell types 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Labeo rohita are comparable to the prolactin, ACTH, TSH, STH and gonadotropin secreting cells described in other teleosts by earlier workers using comparable techniques. However, functional interpretation based on staining reactions is tentative and needs experimental verification.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[An oneiroid experience during severe acute polyradiculoneuritis].

This study is to present a psychopathological analysis of complex hallucinatory symptoms--without consciousness breaking up in confusional state--occurring in patients with acute Guillain-Barré's syndrome diagnosis requiring neurological intensive care. Finally the patients experience an unitary and closed situation "close to dream without being dream". This experience is corresponding to the semeiology of the "oneiroid experience" (Mayer-Gross, 1924). The "oneiroid experience" appears to be of syndromic nature independent of any etiological and/or nosological classification. But its conceptualization does probably need widening: the oneiroid world appears to be a creation of a primitive function which inserts us in the world before any science or verification.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Stabilization of the sacroiliac joint in vivo: verification of muscular contribution to force closure of the pelvis.

A model of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) function postulates that SIJ shear is prevented by friction, dynamically influenced by muscle force and ligament tension. Thus, SIJ stability can be accommodated to specific loading situations. The purpose of this study was to examine, in vivo, whether muscles contribute to force closure of the SIJ. SIJ stiffness was measured using a verified method combining color Doppler imaging with induced oscillation of the ilium relative to the sacrum in six healthy women. SIJ stiffness was measured both in a relaxed situation and during isometric voluntary contractions (electromyographically recorded). The biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, erector spinae, and contralateral latissimus dorsi were included in this study. Results were statistically analyzed. The study showed that SIJ stiffness significantly increased when the individual muscles were activated. This held especially true for activation of the erector spinae, the biceps femoris and the gluteus maximus muscles. During some tests significant co-contraction of other muscles occurred. The finding that SIJ stiffness increased even with slight muscle activity supports the notion that effectiveness of load transfer from spine to legs is improved when muscle forces actively compress the SIJ, preventing shear. When joints are manually tested, the influence of muscle activation patterns must be considered, since both inter- and intra-tester reliability of the test can be affected by muscle activity. In this respect, the relation between emotional states, muscle activity and joint stiffness deserves further exploration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Cellular responses to moderate and heavy exercise.

Moderate and heavy exercise induce a multitude of changes in the neuroendocrine immune system, the net effects of which depend on various other factors including the host's physical condition, and the intensity and duration of the exercise bout. Most investigators report that the risk of upper respiratory infection is increased following heavy exertion, but is decreased after moderate exercise. Many heavy exercise-induced changes in the host's immune defenses are consistent with the alterations reported in classical stress studies; some consensus has been achieved in this area that heavy exertion may indeed elicit responses common to psychological forms of stress. The immunomodulation consists, most notably, of shifts in the number and function of circulating innate and adaptive immune cell populations apparently in response to the release of classical stress hormones and cytokines, and expression of selectin and adhesin molecules. Rapid trafficking of cells in and out of the blood compartment in response to exertion probably mirrors the demand for certain cell types in specific tissues, a hypothesis requiring verification in animal models and ultimately the human. Also needed are studies correlating the functional status of the circulating cells with those in the tissues.

Blood Cells↗
PubMed2006

The human lateral pterygoid muscle.

One of the jaw muscles particularly implicated in temporomandibular disorders (TMD), a common form of non-dental chronic orofacial pain, is the human lateral pterygoid muscle. The precise role of this muscle in TMD is unclear as is the nature of the interaction between pain and motor function particularly involving this muscle. This research group has adopted a two-stage approach to studying the effects of pain on motor function. The first is to study normal orofacial motor function through recordings of jaw movement and electromyographic (EMG) activity from a number of jaw muscles (including recordings from the lateral pterygoid muscle; verification of electrode location achieved through computer tomography imaging) during a number of standardised jaw movements. These studies have defined the detailed functional properties of, in particular, the lateral pterygoid muscle, whose physiology and function is not well understood. In summary, the data are consistent with the hypothesis previously proposed that the lateral pterygoid should be regarded as a system of fibres that acts as one muscle, with varying amounts of evenly graded activity throughout its entire range, and with the distribution of activity within the muscle being determined by the biomechanical demands of the task. Our second approach has been to study the effects of experimental masseter muscle pain on the detailed functional properties (e.g., root-mean-square EMG activity) of the jaw muscles, especially the lateral pterygoid muscle. Preliminary data from these pain studies point towards significant effects of human experimental muscle pain on jaw muscle activity and jaw movement.

Electromyography↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of right and left ventricular function by quantitative blood-pool SPECT (QBS): comparison with conventional methods and quantitative gated SPECT (QGS).

Though quantitative ECG-gated blood-pool SPECT (QBS) has become a popular tool in research settings, more verification is necessary for its utilization in clinical medicine. To evaluate the reliability of the measurements of left and right ventricular functions with QBS, we performed QBS, as well as first-pass pool (FPP) and ECG-gated blood-pool (GBP) studies on planar images in 41 patients and 8 healthy volunteers. Quantitative ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (QGS) was also performed in 30 of 49 subjects. First, we assessed the reproducibility of the measurements of left and right ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, RVEF) and left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV, RVEDV) with QBS. Second, LVEF and RVEF obtained from QBS were compared with those from FPP and GBP, respectively. Third, LVEF and LVEDV obtained from QBS were compared with those from QGS, respectively. The intra- and inter-observer reproducibilities were excellent for LVEF, LVEDV, RVEF and RVEDV measured with QBS (r = 0.88 to 0.96, p < 0.01), while the biases in the measurements of RVEF and RVEDV were relatively large. LVEF obtained from QBS correlated significantly with those from FPP and GBP, while RVEF from QBS did not. LVEF and LVEDV obtained from QBS were significantly correlated with those from QGS, but the regression lines were not close to the lines of identity. In conclusion, the measurements of LVEF and LVEDV with QBS have good reproducibility and are useful clinically, while those of RVEF and RVEDV are less useful compared with LVEF and LVEDV. The algorithm of QBS for the measurements of RVEF and RVEDV remains to be improved.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

How do eating disorders affect thyroid function?

Abnormal thyroid function in patients with eating disorders can result from malnutrition. A low serum triiodothyronine (T3) level is commonly noted in starvation states and is caused by reduced peripheral conversion of thyroxine (T4) to T3. Diminished T4 concentrations are also observed. Adequate nutrition normalizes this type of aberrant laboratory profile. Thyroid function tests that give results below the normal range are best repeated initially for verification of results and again after adequate nutrition is reestablished. If no primary endocrinopathy is present, spontaneous correction of these laboratory values can be expected with conventional dietary habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Thyroid function in healthy Thai neonates.

OBJECTIVES: To construct a normative data for serum thyroxine (T4), free T4 (FT4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyrotropin (TSH) in Thai neonates. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 275 healthy full-term neonates was conducted. Blood samples were obtained from umbilical cords of the neonates and from heel pads of infants aged 1-30 days. Hormone measurements included serum T4, FT4, T3 and TSH. RESULTS: Mean serum T4 and FT4 levels rapidly increased after delivery to the maximum level at 1-3 days of age. Thereafter, they declined to a steady state level within 2-4 weeks. Mean serum T3 level was very low at birth. The concentration increased 3-5 times and reached a steady state levels within 1 week. In contrast, mean serum TSH declined from birth and the level at 1-3 days of age was slightly less than that of the cord blood. It changed little after 3 days of age. Previous studies have shown a transient TSH surge in the first 24-48 hour of life. TSH surge was not apparent in our study because samples were not obtained from infants < 24 hours old. Therefore, if TSH is measured for screening of congenital hypothyroidism, samples should be obtained from umbilical cord or infants aged > 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the normative data for thyroid function tests in Thai full-term neonates. These data are useful for detection and verification of hypothyroidism in a screening program for congenital hypothyroidism.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗