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Biomedical subjects

A Kampfl

Publications and source records attributed to A Kampfl.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Optimizing liposome-mediated gene transfer in primary rat septo-hippocampal cell cultures.

Although liposomes have been widely employed to transfect DNA into a variety of cell types, no previous studies have systematically examined conditions producing optimal liposomal-mediated transfection of DNA into central nervous system (CNS) cells. Thus, we used the beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) reporter gene to examine factors influencing the efficiency of liposome-mediated gene transfection in CNS cell cultures. Our results indicate that without increasing the amounts of DNA, increased liposome concentrations within certain limits enhanced transfection efficiency. However, higher liposome levels could produce cell lysis. Without increasing liposome concentrations, increased amounts of DNA did not improve transfection efficiency. Employing the optimal concentration (1 microgram DNA/3 microliters liposomes/well), beta-gal gene expression was sustained for at least two weeks after transfection in primary septo-hippocampal cultures.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Sustained expression of functional nerve growth factor in primary septo-hippocampal cell cultures by liposome-mediated gene transfer.

We examined liposome-mediated gene transfection of nerve growth factor (NGF) in primary central nervous system cultures. RT-PCR analyses detected increased expression of NGF mRNA one day after liposome-mediated NGF gene transfection. ELISA studies detected large increases in NGF protein in cells and in culture medium after NGF gene transfection. Cells continued to secrete NGF into the medium for at least 2 weeks. NGF bioassays confirmed that the NGF secreted after gene transfection was biologically active.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Time course of cerebral blood flow velocity in central nervous system infections. A transcranial Doppler sonography study.

In a 3-year period, 110 patients with central nervous system infections of various causes were examined serially by means of transcranial Doppler sonography. In viral-induced infections, no changes of flow velocity in basal cerebral arteries were seen, whereas in bacterial meningitis, a significant increase of blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery was recorded. Its extent was mainly associated with the type of the infectious agent, most frequently observed in pneumococcal meningitis (77%). The increase was up to 100% of the baseline values and was reversible in all cases. All patients were offered full-scale neurointensive care, and all subjects with bacterial meningitis were fully heparinized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Early detection of post-traumatic olivary hypertrophy by MRI.

Two patients are described, in whom MRI detected unilateral signal abnormalities in the region of the inferior olivary nuclei, suggesting an early stage of olivary hypertrophy. MRI was performed 4 and 7 weeks respectively after traumatic brain-stem injury. Palatal myoclonus was concomitantly observed in one patient, while the other showed no evidence of segmental myoclonus at the time of examination. The authors conclude that MRI is highly sensitive in the detection of olivary hypertrophy and of traumatic lesions of the dentato-rubro-olivary pathway.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Course and management of tetanus].

Within a span of 18 months 4 patients (2 men, 2 women) were admitted with generalized tetanus to our neurological intensive care unit. The "period of onset" ranged from 2 to 14 days. All patients needed artificial ventilation over 17 to 38 days. The clinical course was complicated by gram-negative pneumonia in 3 of the 4 patients. Time of hospitalization ranged between 35 and 60 days. One patient had never been immunized against tetanus. The other 3 had not received a booster dose for over 10 years. All 4 patients survived, 3 of them without sequelae.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography in hemifacial spasm.

We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to investigate 14 patients with unilateral hemifacial spasm (HS) and 20 controls. The relationship of the seventh and eighth cranial nerves to adjacent vessels was best visualized on the contiguous flow sensitive 3D-FISP images. Reconstruction of projectional MRA was helpful to assess the complex architecture of the vertebrobasilar system. Neurovascular contact in the facial nerve root exit zone was present in 4 of 20 controls and in 12 of 14 patients, in whom it predicted the affected side. These results support previous findings of surgical and electrophysiological investigations that local irritation of the facial nerve is the most possible explanation for HS. MRI and MRA provide vascular and brain tissue diagnosis in a single non-invasive examination and should be recommended as primary neuroradiological procedure in HS.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Cerebral and spinal nocardia infection. A case report].

We report a case of multiple cerebral and spinal abscesses due to Nocardia asteroides in a non-immunocompromised patient. The initial central nervous system manifestation was a sterile meningitis, with secondary development of multiple cerebral and spinal abscesses. Since the location of the abscesses did not allow neurosurgical exploration and the cultures remained negative, the diagnosis was finally established by raised antibody titres to Nocardia asteroides. After specific antibiotic therapy, resolution of the spinal and cerebral abscesses was documented on the basis of serial magnetic resonance tomography and computed tomography controls.

Abscess↗
PubMed1992

Agenesis of the corpus callosum and epilepsy in two brothers. Neurophysiological and MRI features.

We report on two brothers with partial agenesis of the corpus callosum and seizure disorder presumably related to ectopic grey matter. Development of both patients was characterized by psychomotor retardation and focal epileptic seizures. Genetic examination revealed normal karyotypes. One brother showed a remarkable focal miniature spike and wave periodicity constantly observed on sequential EEG records. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed partial agenesis of the corpus callosum and ectopic grey matter. Prior computerized tomography failed to visualize ectopic grey matter and overestimated corpus callosum agenesis. The heterotopic grey matter, isolated from the surrounding inhibiting influences, is the most probable source of focal seizures and the partial connection of both hemispheres may explain secondary generalization of seizures.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Determination of tuberculostearic acid--progress in early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis].

Rapid diagnosis of cerebral tuberculous meningitis is of the greatest importance in determining the outcome of therapy. Since tubercle bacilli are often not seen on microscopy of the cerebrospinal fluid, and culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis takes many weeks, there is a need for more rapid and sensitive confirmatory tests. The importance of the detection of tuberculostearic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid in combination with magnet resonance imaging will be shown in this case report.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Principal advantages of CNS diagnostics by magnetic resonance imaging.

In this paper the authors present the principal advantages and values of CNS diagnostics by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), on the basis of the data from the available literature as well as on the 3-year experience of the MRI Institute in Innsbruck. Also, qualitative advantages of MR 1.5 T over other, less powerful machines, have been emphasized. So far, the experience has proved that, for the moment, the 1.5 MR machine offers optimal characteristics for the diagnostics of the CNS diseases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Syndrome of the anterior spinal artery as the primary manifestation of aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is an uncommon infection, mainly occurring in immunocompromised patients. Beside cerebral involvement spinal cord lesions are extremely rare. To our knowledge, aspergillosis initially presenting with acute paraplegia due to mycotic thrombosis of the anterior spinal artery in a formerly healthy patient has, so far, not been reported. Neither a primary focus nor an underlying disease had been detected.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic value of intraventricular blood in perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (PNSH) is a distinct type of subarachnoid hemorrhage with a characteristic bleeding pattern, and an excellent clinical outcome. However, the clinical course of patients presenting with a perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal bleeding pattern and intraventricular blood has not yet been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study we describe the cisternal blood distribution and the clinical course of 34 PNSH patients with (10 patients) and without (24 patients) intraventricular blood. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Patients without intraventricular blood were in good clinical condition on admission; the in-hospital course was uneventful except for acute hydrocephalus, which was detected in two cases and improved spontaneously in both patients. All patients resumed their previous lifestyles. In contrast, two patients with PNSH and intraventricular blood were drowsy and had focal neurologic deficits on admission. Four patients developed an acute hydrocephalus, and two of these patients needed ventricular shunting. There was evidence for delayed cerebral ischemia in one of these patients. Outcome was excellent in eight cases, and one patient was moderately and one patient was severely disabled at dismissal from the hospital. Rebleeding did not occur in all patients, and repeated four-vessel angiography did not reveal the source of bleeding in any of our patients. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the presence of intraventricular blood may be a good indicator for the development of acute hydrocephalus in PNSH. Moreover, our results suggest that PNSH patients with ventricular blood may have a higher complication rate and a poorer outcome compared with PNSH patients without intraventricular blood.

Acute Disease↗