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Biomedical subjects

B Beck

Publications and source records attributed to B Beck.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

High molecular weight substances with insulin immunoreactivity.

Substances which react with anti-insulin antibodies, but have a higher molecular weight than insulin are described. They have been studied by various authors in pancreatic adenomas, pancreas extracts, serum and cell-free systems. Proinsulin was the first of these products to be discovered, followed by its precursor, pre-proinsulin, and subsequently by a whole series of substances of ill-defined composition and more or less similar properties, grouped under the heading of "high molecular weight immunoreactive insulin" (HWIRI).

Adenoma

[Extrathoracic mesothelioma by inhalation of asbestos dust (author's transl)].

Report on 22 cases of malign peritoneal mesothelioma, their occupational, epidemiological, differentialdiagnostic, and oncologic aspects being discussed. For expert opinion the special criteria for acknowledging a peritoneal mesothelioma as an occupational disease are formulated (time and level to asbestos exposition, presence of pulmonary asbestosis and/or asbestos needles, latency time of about 20 years, and malignancy of the very often diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma).

Asbestos

Inpatient audit simplified.

One hospital's audit program identifies the necessary procedures for selecting criteria, performing audits, and conducting follow-up and shows how they can be accomplished most effectively and efficiently. In addition, it shows that a useful emergency department/outpatient audit can be conducted using data from telephone follow-up for the patients.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

[Oxygen consumption of the spontaneous and artificially induced skincycle at different times of day (author's transl)].

In the "clean" rat skin purified from the panniculus carnosus the oxygen consumption of the spontaneous and artificially induced skincycle was measured at different times of day. The level of oxygen consumption correlated to diurnal and nocturnal periods. During the skincycle the oxygen consumption showed fluctuations. There were indications that the value of oxygen consumption of the early anagen is influenced by that phase of the cycle at which the new cycle is artificially induced. Furthermore, it was found that a certain decrease of oxygen consumption stimulates the quiescent hair follicles to spontaneous proliferation. During the katagen the peak value of the oxygen consumption seemed to be correlated with specially morphofunctional perifollicular changes. The application of these findings to the pathophysiology of human hair growth disturbances is discussed.

Animals

Cystic fibrosis: cell culture classes in a Danish population.

The cystic fibrosis (CF) culture phenotype of dermal fibroblasts (metachromasia, metabolic cooperation) of a group of 131 Danish CF patients and their families were studied to determine the distribution of the two CF culture classes and their prognostic significance. Of these, 62.6% (82) were Class I, 31.3% (41) Class II and 61.1% (8) were proposed to be genetic compounds. The occurrence of Class II was twice that found in a group of patients from New York (13%) and Minnesota (18%). The prognosis for Class II CF patients was considered to be poorer as: (1) The initial diagnosis was made earlier in Class II than in Class I or the compounds (63% of Class II were diagnosed in the first year of life, as compared to 35% in Class I and 13% of the compounds). (2) Only 5% of the Class II patients survived over the age of 15 years, both being deceased at the end of the study in 1976, whereas 24% of Class I and 63% of the compounds were over 15 years at the end of the study. This research added further evidence for genetic heterogeneity within the clinical syndrome, cystic fibrosis.

Age Factors

Properties and subcellular distribution of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) in guinea-pig liver.

The optimal in vivo conditions for measuring liver acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase, EC.2.2.1.26 (ACAT) activity in cytoplasmic extract from guinea-pigs have been examined. ACAT in liver from ordinarily fed guinea-pigs is very low. The effect of different compounds on ACAT activity was evaluated. Sodium fluoride, oligomycin, divalent cations, oleyl-CoA, and bile acids were all shown to inhibit ACAT activity markedly. Albumin stimulated the cholesterol esterification independently of the presence of fatty acids. Subcellular distribution of liver ACAT in relation to different marker enzymes shows that the bulk of ACAT activity is present in the microsomal fraction. By comparing the esterification of exogenous and endogenous cholesterol, the results indicate that these two substrates are not esterified to the same extent. Both the 'enzyme" level and substrate quality are of importance for the high ACAT activity found in rat-liver homogenates compared to guinea-pig.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis. Diagnostic and prognostic significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa precipitins determined by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

A total of 133 patients with cystic fibrosis have been followed for up to 5 years with monthly examinations including bacteriological examinations of sputum. Sera from the patients were examined by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis for the occurence and number of precipitating antibody specificites against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Poor prognosis in cystic fibrosis was associated with chronic colonization (9 months - more than 5 years) of the respiratory tract with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and with an onset of the chronic colonization before puberty. Among the patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, poor prognosis was associated with high numbers of precipitins against antigens from these bacteria (up to 61). The number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa precipitins increased on an average with five per year in chronically colonized patients. Rapidly increasing number of precipitins was associated with poor prognosis. Patients with any degree of impairment of the ventilatory function and any changes on the chest radiographs could contract chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization. Poor ventilatory function and severe changes on the chest radiographs was associated with high numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa precipitins and with poor prognosis. Although many O groups of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found in the chronically colonized group of patients, 53% of the patients harboured strains belonging to O group 3 or 3/9, and the highest numbers of precipitins were found in serum from these patients.

Antibodies, Bacterial

[Silicosis and scleroderma--attempt at synopsis].

Progressive systemic sclerosis obviously more frequently appears in men working under silica dust exposure than in professionally not selected groups. Moreover, silicosis and sclerosis frequently occur combined. Pathogenetic association with regard to immunologic patterns may give an explanation for this phenomenon. Sclerosis occuring in the course of silicosis ought to be included when impairment for compensation purposes is taken into consideration.

Antibody Formation

Epidemiology of Cornelia de Lange's syndrome.

A prevalence investigation of Cornelia de Lange's syndrome in Denmark is presented. The patients were traced by screening all institutional mentally retarded patients, patients in schools and kindergartens for imbecile patients and finally by getting information on Cornelia de Lange patients known to pediatric departments. In this way 24 patients, 10 men and 14 women, were found. This amounts to a population prevalence of 0.5/100 000. Clinical data, histories of the patients and genealogical data are presented by means of tables. The eldest patient was 49 years old, but 75% of the patients were younger than 20 years. Two of the probands were sibs. Another 2 sibs were registered as mentally retarded without specific syndromes. One case of consanguinity among parents was found. The mode of ascertainment is discussed and it is concluded that the present investigation presents a minimum prevalence figure. Four patients are presented who for various reasons were not available during the prevalence investigation proper. A prevalence figure of 0.6/100 000 is found if these 4 patients are included in the calculations. One of the last mentioned patients represented a familial case. The patient in question was a girl with a younger half-brother, the mother in common, both children being very typical cases of Cornella de Lange's syndrome.

Adolescent

[Health hazards: asbestos--a review (author's transl)].

The health hazards caused by asbestos are reviewed and some conclusions are drawn. Asbestos and the materials containing a high percentage of asbestos cannot completely be substituted by other materials without dangerous health effects. It is to be expected that the use of asbestos will still increase. An important health hazard has become evident among asbestos insulation workers. But also in other branches the application of asbestos is widespread. It seems to be difficult to find substitutes meeting the same requirements for using like asbestos. Rock-wool and glass fibres are used more and more in exchange for asbestos. Registers for asbestos workers and asbestos working places are established in several countries. The main causes of death induced by asbestos among asbestos workers are asbestosis. mesothelioma and cancer. For the evaluation and assessment of cancer risk due to asbestos epidemiological studies have to be conducted. Even a short period of exposure to low quantities of asbestos fibres proves to be a health hazard causing certain diseases (diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, pleural hyalinosis, pleural calcifications, mesothelioma) after more than 20 years. For avoiding occupational disease hazards among asbestos workers the dust level on the working place has to be lowered to acceptable concentrations (maximal allowable concentrations). The identification of dust sources of asbestos, the application of practice codes for handling of asbestos, the substitution of asbestos by materials without dangerous health effects, and dust control at source are the most effective directions of hygienic practice. The health protection requires annual medical examinations of all persons exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos.

Adolescent

Cystic fibrosis heterozygote detection: a family study.

Family studies have been done to determine if the phenotypes described for the cystic fibrosis (CF) cultured cell reliably detected the CF gene. Two culture phenotypes were studied in culture derived from consecutive generations in four CF families: (1) cystic fibrosis factor (CFF) in the medium of short-term white blood cell cultures assayed by a modified oyster ciliary test and (2) the three characteristics of cultured skin fibroblasts (metachromasia without alcianophilia at 0.3 M MgCl2, CFF in the culture medium and metabolic cooperation with normal fibroblasts). As CF is an autosomal recessive disorder, the family offered a test unit for determining the specificity of these cell phenotypes for the CF gene. On the basis of detecting the CF culture phenotypes in the homozygote and obligatory heterozygotes, the parents, and their segregation in consecutive generations, detection of the CF gene was not possible in the white blood cell cultures, but was possible in the skin fibroblast cultures.

Cells, Cultured