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Biomedical subjects

B Greve

Publications and source records attributed to B Greve.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Molluscum contagiosum: treatment with pulsed dye laser].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is a wide variety of methods for the treatment of mollusca contagiosa. Especially with anxious children, most of them are not applicable because they are often invasive, painful, time intensive or difficult to conduct (e.g. if a stay in hospital is necessary). In order to verify the existing case reports, this paper evaluates the application of the pulsed dye laser as a possible therapy alternative in cases of mollusca contagiosa. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a prospective study 20 patients with mollusca contagiosa were treated with the pulsed dye laser. RESULTS: The therapy was well tolerated; no scars or pigment anomalies were observed. 95.9% of the lesions healed after the first treatment, the other 4.1% after the second. This larger study verifies the positive findings indicated in case studies. CONCLUSIONS: For exposed sites, difficult cases or if other treatment methods have failed, the pulsed dye laser is an effective, quick, bloodless and elegant therapeutic alternative for mollusca contagiosa with a low rate of side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Benign melanosis of the lip. Treatment with the Q-switched ruby laser].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Benign melanosis of the lip represents a cosmetic problem for many of those who are afflicted. It responds well to therapy with Q-switched lasers. The value of previous studies has been limited by small numbers of cases or short follow-up times. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a retrospective study 9 patients were treated by the Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm, pulse duration 25-40 ns, spot size 4 mm, energy density 10 J/cm2) in the period from 5/94 to 10/99. The benignity of the lip melanosis was determined dermatoscopically. In one case, the diagnosis was also confirmed histologically by a punch biopsy. The follow-up time was between 6 months and 5 1/2 years. RESULTS: In 3 cases a complete clearance of the melanosis was achieved after one session, while in 6 patients a second treatment was required. There were no recurrences. Scars or pigment alterations were likewise not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of benign melanosis of the lip with the Q-switched ruby laser is an elegant and safe method with excellent cosmetic results.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Plastidic (Pho1-type) phosphorylase isoforms in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants: expression analysis and immunochemical characterization.

Higher plants contain two types of phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1). One type is plastidic (Phol) and the other resides in the cytosol (Pho2). For Solanum tuberosum L., two highly homologous Pho1-type sequences (designated as Pho1a and Pho1b, respectively) have been described that occur both in a homodimeric, (Pho1a)2, and a heterodimeric, Pho1a-Pho1b, state [U. Sonnewald et al. (1995) Plant Mol Biol 27:567 576; T. Albrecht et al. (1998) Eur J Biochem 251:981-991]. We present a spatial and temporal analysis of the expression patterns of the Pho1-type phosphorylases in S. tuberosum. Expression was analyzed at transcript, protein and activity levels. The specificity of both the probes and the antibodies used was carefully determined to ensure selectivity of detection. For both the Pho1a and Pho1b probes the degree of cross-hybridization was estimated. Peptide scanning identified the epitopes of the anti-Pho 1a and anti-Pho 1b antibodies. Expression of the two Pho1-type genes was analyzed in various organs of the potato plant. In all organs studied the Pho1a transcript levels exceeded those of Pho1b. Furthermore, leaves of a given developmental stage were sampled during the light period and were analyzed for transcript and protein levels and for various carbohydrate pools as well. The data show that in leaves the Pho1a gene expression closely corresponds to starch accumulation, suggesting that the enzyme fulfils a metabolic function within the process of starch biosynthesis. In tubers, Pho1a is constitutively expressed in the parenchyma cells whereas expression of the Pho1b, gene is restricted to cells in close vicinity of the vascular tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

The effect of cold air cooling on 585 nm pulsed dye laser treatment of port-wine stains.

BACKGROUND: The use of cryogen spray cooling in the course of dye laser treatment of port-wine stains has established itself in recent years because of its good analgesic and epidermally protective effects. The disadvantages of this kind of evaporative cooling are the cost and, in the case of dichlorodifluoromethane, the effects on the ozone layer. Cold air is an innovative cooling method that costs nearly nothing to use, is environmentally friendly, and can be easily adapted to existing laser systems. OBJECTIVE: To examine and evaluate cold air cooling as an alternative method of cooling in laser treatment. METHODS: In a prospective study, 13 patients (9 female, 4 male) with port-wine stains were treated with a pulsed dye laser (lambda = 585 nm, tau(p) = 450 microsec). In every case, either the entire area or a sample area of the port-wine stain was treated with cold air cooling on 50% of the surface and without on the other 50%. Clearance, analgesia, and adverse and concomitant effects were assessed. RESULTS: In nine patients (69%) there were similar results in terms of clearance. In four cases, better lightening results (in two patients) and worse lightening results (in two other patients) were achieved in the area treated with cold air. Nine of the patients (69%) felt that the laser impulses accompanied by cold air were significantly less painful. Adverse effects (purpura, erythema, edema) and concomitant effects (hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, scars) were much less marked in the cooled areas. CONCLUSION: Cold air is a safe and effective alternative to cryogen spray cooling. It is easy to use, economical, and environmentally friendly. Continuing studies are necessary to determine if there are interactions which affect the tissue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Usefulness of carvedilol in unstable angina pectoris.

The safety and efficacy of adding oral carvedilol (25 mg twice daily) to standardized treatment of unstable angina was assessed in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled trial on 116 patients with acute unstable angina. Patients were monitored in an intensive care unit and underwent 48-hour Holter monitoring to assess transient ischemia. Carvedilol as adjunctive therapy resulted in a significant reduction of median heart rate (65 vs 75 beats/min, p <0.05), mean systolic blood pressure (133 vs 130 mm Hg, p <0.05), and mean rate-pressure product (8,337 vs 10,042, p <0.05). Carvedilol reduced the ischemic burden during 48 hours of treatment by 75% (49 vs 204 minutes), including a 36% reduction of patients with ischemic episodes (p <0.05), a 66% reduction of the mean number of ischemic episodes (8 vs 24, p <0.05), and a 76% reduction in the mean duration of ischemic episodes (50 vs 205 minutes, p <0.05). Side effects occurred in 8 of 59 patients (13.6%) in the carvedilol group and in 5 of 54 patients (8.8%) given placebo. Although not significant, the early onset of maximal blood pressure reduction and the delayed effect on heart rate were closely correlated to drug-induced hypotension and bradycardia in the carvedilol group. Thus, carvedilol as an adjunctive to standardized treatment effectively reduces heart rate and blood pressure, and thus the ischemic burden in patients with unstable angina pectoris, but requires close monitoring of patients at risk for bradycardia or hypotension.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Cold air in laser therapy: first experiences with a new cooling system.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Analgesic cooling technologies are firmly established in dermatologic laser therapy. We present cold air as a novel method of cooling and compare it with those methods that are already in use. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 166 patients with the diagnoses hypertrichosis, port wine stains, hemangioma, essential telangiectasias, and tattoos with different laser systems (long-pulsed alexandrite laser [LPIR], pulsed dye laser, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, Q-switched ruby laser). In a prospective study, we collected data about the analgesia of the cooling method and the thermal protection of the epidermis (reduction of the extent and duration of erythema, purpura, blisters, hyper-/hypopigmentations, edemas, crusting), compared with the cooling method with ice gel. Additionally, we measured air and skin temperatures with an infrared thermometer at different application modalities. RESULTS: Three percent of the treated patients refused the cold air therapy altogether. Eleven percent found that it was as good as the other cooling methods; 86% clearly preferred the cold air therapy. Leaving out the perinasal area, the percentage rises to 97%. On average, the analgesic effect was by 37% better than through cooling with ice gel. The increased thermal protection of the epidermis made it possible to use laser energy levels that were higher by 15-30% and, at the same time, to reduce the rate of side effects (in 63% of the patients erythema persisted for a shorter period, in 70% the purpura was reduced, 83% had less crusting). CONCLUSION: In dermatologic laser therapy, the use of cold air in analgesia can be considered as an effective, inexpensive, and well-accepted (by both patients and doctors) alternative to currently applied cooling methods. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are necessary to determine whether treatment results can really be improved by using higher laser energy levels.

Air↗
PubMed2000

[The neodymium YAG laser: its application in dermatology].

The neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet-(Nd:YAG) laser is one of the most versatile and interesting lasers in dermatological laser medicine. Almost no other laser has such a wide spectrum of applications. Depending on wave length (1064 nm, frequency-doubled 532 nm) and mode (continuous, Q-switched, long-pulsed), benign pigmented lesions (tattoos, traumatic tattoos, naevus of Ota, cafe-au-lait-macules, lentigines) and vascular lesions (hemangiomas, portwine stains, essential teleangiectasias, angiomas) can be treated. Additionally this laser has been occasionally used to remove Kaposi sarcomas and epithelial skin tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Current status of photoepilation].

During the last few years the fast development of different laser and laser-like systems for photoepilation and their one-sided representation in media has led to confusion among physicians and patients. The object of this review is to give a structured report of different pulsed laser and laser-like systems (Epilight, Photoderm, long-pulsed ruby-, alexandrite- and diodelaser) that are available in Germany, including their side effects and complications. The current status of scientific investigation in this field is discussed.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2000

Low interleukin-12 activity in severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

We compared interleukin-12 (IL-12) and other cytokine activities during and after an acute clinical episode in a matched-pair case-control study of young African children who presented with either mild or severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The acute-phase, pretreatment plasma IL-12 and alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) levels, as well as the acute-phase mitogen-stimulated whole-blood production capacity of IL-12, were significantly lower in children with severe rather than mild malaria. IL-12 levels, in addition, showed strong inverse correlations both with parasitemia and with the numbers of circulating malaria pigment-containing neutrophils. Acute-phase plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in those with severe malaria, and the concentrations of both of these cytokines were positively correlated both with parasitemia and with the numbers of pigment-containing phagocytes in the blood. Children with severe anemia had the highest levels of TNF in plasma. In all the children, the levels in plasma and production capacities of all cytokines normalized when they were healthy and parasite free. The results indicate that severe but not mild P. falciparum malaria in young, nonimmune African children is characterized by down-regulated IL-12 activity, contrasting markedly with the up-regulation of both TNF and IL-10 in the same children. A combination of disturbed phagocyte functions resulting from hemozoin consumption, along with reduced IFN-gamma responses, may contribute to these differential effects.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum: evolution according to the severity of a prior clinical episode and association with subsequent reinfection.

We measured sporozoite- and total parasite antigen-specific IgG and IgM antibodies before and after treatment in matched groups of Gabonese children who presented with either mild or severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We investigated the influence of various parameters on these antibody responses, including clinical presentation, age, and post-treatment reinfection profiles. IgG but not IgM responses were strongly influenced by both clinical and parasitological status. IgG responses to the repeat region of the circumsporozoite protein, which were low at admission, particularly so in those with severe anemia, increased after treatment but showed no association with either age or reinfection profiles. Total parasite antigen-specific IgG responses were strongly influenced by parasitological status, and also differed significantly when segregated according to clinical status at admission, age, and reinfection histories. Most notably, anti-parasite IgG responses measured when children were parasite-free were higher and a good indicator of recent reinfections in those who presented with mild rather than with severe malaria. The profile of responses in the latter group suggests some immune system dysfunction, which may reflect the induction of tolerance to parasite antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Temporary hair loss using the long-pulsed alexandrite laser at 20 milliseconds.

Facial hypertrichosis presents an enormous psychological burden for women. Temporary hair removal (waxing, plucking, etc.) and electrolysis are prolonged and unsatisfactory methods of treatment. For a few years several laser systems with varying wavelengths, pulse durations and energy fluences have been used successfully in laser epilation. In the retrospective study on hand, we report on results of 30 female patients with hypertrichosis in the facial area treated with the long pulse alexandrite laser at 20 msec (Cynosure PhotoGenica LPIR/Apogee; 755 nm; 20 msec; up to 30 J/cm2; 10 or 12.5 mm beam diameter) over an 18 month treatment period. After an average of 8 treatments, an average clearance rate of 75% could be achieved. Fair hair (white/blond/red) only showed a clearance rate of 10%. Hypo- and hyperpigmentation did not appear. The most frequent adverse effects were the occasional appearance of scattered crusting (17%), which healed without consequences, and folliculitis (13%). The average post-treatment observation time lasted 3.25 months. The long-pulsed alexandrite laser at a pulse duration of 20 msec is an effective and safe method of treatment of hypertrichosis in the facial region of women. Black hair responds considerably better to the laser treatment than fair hair. A longer post-treatment observation time is necessary, though, in order to provide evidence for the permanence of the success of the method.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Xanthelasma palpebrarum: treatment with the ultrapulsed CO2 laser.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to its delicate location near the eye and the high recurrence rate, the therapy of xanthelasma palpebrarum is a difficult surgical task. Besides chemical, physical, and surgical procedures, various laser systems have been used to treat these lesions (argon laser, pulsed dye laser, and CO2 laser). This study was designed to critically evaluate the use of the ultrapulsed CO2 laser for the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report about the standardized treatment of 23 patients (52 periorbital xanthelasmas) and the results obtained after one treatment with a new generation, ultrapulsed CO2 laser (COHERENT Ultrapulse 5000C, Palo Alto, CA; 250-500 mJ; 600-900 microsec; 10,600 nm). The followup time was 10 months. RESULTS: All lesions could be removed completely with a single laser treatment. As for side effects, only transient pigmental changes (4% hyperpigmentations, 13% hypopigmentations) and no visible scarring was observed. Three patients (13%) developed a recurrence of xanthelasma. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrapulsed CO2 laser is an effective and safe therapeutic alternative to the hitherto described approaches.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus - treatment with pulsed dye laser].

A 17-year old female patient with extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus was treated with the pulsed dye laser. Local and systemic therapy before treatment showed no effect. The lesions were removed completely with four treatment sessions. As for side effects, no pigment changes and no visible scarring was observed. The patient experienced no recurrence within a follow-up time of 7 months. The mechanism whereby lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is altered by the pulsed dye laser is unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Interferon-gamma responses are associated with resistance to reinfection with Plasmodium falciparum in young African children.

The contribution of T cell-mediated responses was studied with regard to resistance to reinfection in groups of Gabonese children participating in a prospective study of severe and mild malaria due to infection with Plasmodium falciparum. In those admitted with mild malaria, but not in those with severe malaria, production of IFN-gamma by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in response to either liver-stage or merozoite antigen peptides was associated with significantly delayed first reinfections and with significantly lower rates of reinfection. Proliferative or tumor necrosis factor responses to the same peptides showed no such associations. Production of interferon-gamma by PBMC in response to sporozoite and merozoite antigen peptides was observed in a higher proportion of those presenting with mild malaria. Differences in the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance may be linked to the ability to control parasite multiplication in these young children, helping to explain the marked differences observed in both susceptibility to infection as well as in clinical presentation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

High oxygen radical production is associated with fast parasite clearance in children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

It has been hypothesized that reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) released by leukocytes play a major role in the immune response to many infectious agents. In the present study, the parasitologic and clinical courses of 75 Gabonese children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria were compared with the ability of their granulocytes to produce oxygen radicals. The luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in granulocyte suspensions for the children was measured without stimulation and after stimulation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, or tumor necrosis factor. A significant association was found between fast parasite clearance time and high oxygen radical generation in both the unstimulated and stimulated granulocyte preparations. No correlation was found between fever clearance time and ROI generation. These findings suggest that ROI play a pivotal role in the immune response as a first line of defense against P. falciparum malaria.

Child↗
PubMed1999

The role of red blood cell polymorphisms in resistance and susceptibility to malaria.

In regions highly endemic for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, red cell polymorphisms that confer resistance to severe disease are widespread. Sickle cell trait, alpha-thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and blood groups were determined in 100 children from Gabon with severe malaria who were matched with 100 children with mild malaria and followed up for evaluation of reinfections. The sickle cell trait was significantly associated with mild malaria and blood group A with severe malaria. During follow-up, the original severe cases had significantly higher rates of reinfection than the original mild cases, with higher parasitemia and lower hematocrit values. Incidence rates did not differ in the context of erythrocyte polymorphisms, but patients with sickle cell trait presented with markedly lower levels of parasitemia than those without. Thus, the severity of malaria is partly determined by the presence of blood group A and the sickle cell trait. The different presentation of reinfections in severe versus mild cases probably reflects different susceptibility to malaria.

ABO Blood-Group System↗