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Biomedical subjects

A Burda

Publications and source records attributed to A Burda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Impaired blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration and infection risk in severe trauma.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association of impaired blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration with the incidence of bacterial infections in patients with severe trauma. METHOD: Twenty-six intensive-care patients with different injury severity scores were enrolled in a prospective study. PMN migration was measured daily using 300 microl fresh whole blood in a membrane filter assay. Migration was evaluated in an automated image analyzer that recorded numbers and distribution of the immigrant PMNs within a filter. The relevant parameter was the percentage of PMNs that migrated from the blood samples into the filters upon f-Met-Leu-Phe stimulation. RESULTS: Nine patients developed posttraumatic infections verified microbiologically. These patients showed a reduced PMN migratory capacity in comparison with the 17 patients without infections. A migrating portion of six per cent or less at least three days in succession preceded infections by one to 19 days and indicated infection in eight true positive versus three false positive cases, and 14 true negative versus one false negative case, i.e. specificity was 82.3% and sensitivity 88.8%, p=0.0008. Trauma severity had no influence on PMN migration. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma patients with impaired PMN migration are at risk for bacterial infections. Whole-blood migration tests can define the infection risk and thus may be useful predictive markers for infections.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A simple method for measuring the F-actin content of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in whole blood.

We have developed an improved method for measuring the filamentous (F) actin content of human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The essential feature of the method is the immediate fixation of the F-actin cytoskeleton. Fresh whole blood (100 microliters) is shock-cooled by the addition of 1.0 ml of a mixture of 18.75% glycerol and 5% formaldehyde in phosphate buffer pre-cooled to -8 degrees C and subsequently fixed at 4 degrees C for 15 min. After lysis in distilled water and removal of the red blood cells by centrifugation, the F-actin cytoskeleton of the PMNs is stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin and quantified by means of flow cytometry. In healthy test subjects, PMN stimulation by the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) for 20 s resulted in a significantly increased F-actin assembly, while in patients with multiple organ failure, two subpopulations arose: one with greater F-actin content and a second with lower F-actin content in comparison with the unstimulated blood sample. This simple and fast method may be a useful tool in basic and clinical research.

Actins↗
PubMed2001

Blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation in atherosclerosis: effects of aspirin.

The aim of the study was to demonstrate an activation of polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in chronic progressive atherosclerosis (ATH). A group of patients with ATH, and a group of ATH patients under aspirin (ASA) therapy were compared with control persons without atherosclerotic alterations (healthy controls). Each group comprised 15 male age-matched subjects. The following inflammatory parameters related to PMN activities were measured: the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) blood count; blood PMN migration and reactive oxygen species release in vitro; the blood levels of PMN elastase, malondialdehyde, antibodies to oxidized LDL and soluble ICAM-1. In ATH patients, the PMN blood counts and the share of blood PMNs migrating upon platelet activating factor and leukotriene B4 stimulation were significnatly above the values of the healthy controls, while the other parameters were not significantly altered. ASA treatment attenuated the inflammatory response and reduced the differences between ATH and the healthy controls. It can be concluded that, in patients with chronic progressive atherosclerosis, PMNs are involved in the inflammatory process underlying the disease.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2000

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions as predictive markers for infections after organ transplantation.

Infectious complications are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality after organ transplantation, and early therapy would certainly reduce the risk associated with severe infections. We therefore investigated the significance of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functional tests as predictive markers for infection in transplant patients under immunosuppressive therapy in a longitudinal study. In 41 patients, blood PMN migration and reactive oxygen species release, the blood levels of PMN elastase, malondialdehyde, neopterin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, and urine neopterine were measured in 3- and 4-day intervals after liver-, kidney-, kidney-pancreas-, and heart and lung transplantation. PMN migration was determined in whole blood and estimated by the amount of PMNs to penetrate into a membrane filter upon FMLP stimulation. Three groups of patients were formed according to their postoperative course. Group I patients (n = 23) had no or only minor local infection, group II patients (n = 11) had infections with distinct systemic involvement, and group III patients (n = 7) developed sepsis. A first elastase-level of over 100 mg/L after surgery, followed by a drop in the amount of blood PMNs ready to migrate, on FMLP stimulation, to below 12 %, turned out to be a marker for impending infection, whereas all other parameters tested were not predictive. In six of seven group III patients, this marker became positive (sensitivity 85.7 %) up to 15 days before clinical manifestation of sepsis. In group I (largely uneventful recovery) only one of 23 patients was positive (specificity 95.6 % ), whereas group II patients were in between (4 of 11 positive). By this method it seems possible to diagnose severe infections in the pre-clinical phase, which may help prevent them if treatment is begun promptly.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Use of subcutaneous terbutaline to reverse peripheral ischemia.

Four cases are presented, one involving extravasation of a dopamine and dobutamine solution in the arm and three involving accidental digital injection of epinephrine into the thumb. In three cases, local infiltration of terbutaline resulted in dramatic reversal of vasospasm and ischemia. In the remaining case the use of terbutaline resulted in minor clinical improvement. These are the first reported cases involving the successful treatment of peripheral ischemia with subcutaneous terbutaline. This experience suggests that terbutaline may be an effective alternative for treatment of peripheral ischemia when phentolamine is not available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Nefazadone-induced acute dystonic reaction.

A 53-y-o patient presented approximately 2 h after taking her first dose of nefazadone. Chief complaint was lip smacking with hand and arm gesturing. The patient also took 25 mg meclizine which she had used before with no adverse effects. Diphenhydramine followed by benztropine led to resolution of symptoms within 1 h. Patient subsequently used meclizine with no untoward reactions. Nefazadone should be added to the list of agents that cause acute dystonic reactions.

Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation↗