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Biomedical subjects

B Vogel

Publications and source records attributed to B Vogel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Detection of glycyrrhetinic acid-like factors (GALFs) in human urine.

Patients with the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess and those who ingest licorice show markedly decreased 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-OHSD) and 5 beta-reductase activity; both are important for the deactivation of glucocorticoids and other steroid hormones. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), present as its glycoside in licorice, is a potent inhibitor of both 11 beta-OHSD and 5 beta-reductase and, as we have also shown, confers Na(+)-retaining properties on glucocorticoids and amplifies those of aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone. We report the results of our initial studies demonstrating the presence of naturally occurring substances, which inhibit both 5 beta-reductase and 11 beta-OHSD as does GA, in partially purified extracts of urine from normotensive men and nonpregnant and pregnant women. Since these substances exhibit GA-like activity, we have termed them GA-like factors (GALFs). This "inhibitory" material is heat stable and does not react with ninhydrin; the majority is not extractable with ethyl acetate and thus is not a "free" steroid. When further purified by high-performance liquid chromatography with a methanol/water gradient, the majority of these GALFs appeared in two regions of inhibitory activity. The chemical nature of this material is currently being investigated. These experiments indicate that normal human urine contains GALFs that may play a role in Na+ homeostasis and regulation of blood pressure.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1990

[Autochthonous pulmonary dirofilariasis in Europe].

The chest X-ray of a 39-year-old woman who had an acute onset of fever, cough, dyspnoea and thoracic pain revealed two peripheral round opacities (about 1.5 cm in diameter) in the right lower lobe. Extensive further studies having failed to discover the cause, a diagnostic thoracotomy was performed and the two pleura-adjacent tumours were removed. Histological examination revealed granulomatous encapsulated filariae, species Dirofilaria immitis. This was confirmed by a positive ELISA test with Dirofilaria immitis antigen. As the patient had been on holiday in Corsica three months before onset of symptoms, it is most likely that the pulmonary dirofilariasis was acquired autochthonously in Europe.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Poly- and monoclonal antibodies against recombinant rat brain calbindin D-28K were produced to map its selective distribution in the central nervous system.

Many processes in the CNS depend on calcium. The calcium signal is transduced into an intracellular response via Ca2(+)-binding proteins, including calbindin D-28K. In many laboratories, polyclonal antibodies against chicken intestinal calbindin D-28K have been used to study its localization in the brain (normal and degenerated) of various species, including humans, but some of these antisera cross-reacted with other proteins, including calretinin. We purified recombinant rat brain calbindin D-28K to raise antisera in rabbits and purified a recombinant rat-chicken calbindin D-28K hybrid protein to immunize mice for the generation of monoclonal antibodies. These antisera were highly specific for calbindin D-28K, as demonstrated by two-dimensional Western blotting analysis. Immunohistochemical analyses combined with in situ hybridization studies demonstrated that calbindin D-28K in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum is independent of vitamin D. The antibodies described here will be important tools for studying the regulation of expression of calbindin D-28K and its biological function in the brain and in the PNS.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration--diagnostic and therapeutic aspects].

This article reports on four tumour patients with extensive, but cytologically innocuous pericardial effusion. In three cases, a tumour-cell-negative pleural effusion, on the left, was also present. Thoracoscopy showed that the pleura were unremarkable, whereupon, with the aid of the biopsy forceps--in one case the Nd:YAG laser--the pericardium was opened. The procedure provided diagnostically high-yielding material; in addition, pericardial tamponade was "permanently" eliminated (period of observation up to 4 years). This shows that, in addition to its diagnostic value, thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration also can be therapeutic. It represents an alternative to the surgical approach.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Survival of an infant with massive thermal injury: a case report.

Survival of infants with greater than 80 per cent body surface area burns has not been well documented. Survival of a 4-month-old infant with 80 per cent full skin thickness flame injury is reported. Data from the National Burn Information Exchange showed that there were 2266 infants under 8 months of age treated for burns in reporting hospitals. Only four children of the 2266 were treated for full skin thickness thermal injury covering more than 80 per cent TBSA and none survived except for the child reported here. It was felt that early aggressive excision of the burn eschar was an important factor leading to the survival of this infant. Complex rehabilitation issues related to developmental issues as well as physical and psychosocial needs were identified and addressed throughout her time in hospital by a multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible quality of life.

Burns↗
PubMed1988

Expression of type I procollagen genes.

All of the type I collagen in connective tissue is the product of one structural gene for the pro alpha 1(I) chain and another for the pro alpha 2(I) chain of type I procollagen. An intriguing question therefore is how the expression of the two genes differs in mineralizing and non-mineralizing tissues. One approach that our laboratory has pursued to answer this and related questions is to develop a new system whereby one can examine the self-assembly of collagen fibrils de novo by controlled enzymic cleavage of procollagen to collagen under physiological conditions. The system has made it possible for the first time to define thermodynamic parameters for the self-assembly process. We are now using the system to define the normal kinetics for fibril formation. The results should make it possible to study the effects of other components of extracellular matrix on fibril assembly, including the effects of bone-specific components that initiate mineralization. A second approach has been to define mutations in type I procollagen genes that cause increased brittleness of bone. Over a dozen mutations in type I procollagen genes have been found in probands with osteogenesis imperfecta. One of the surprises has been that at least 25% of the probands with lethal variants of osteogenesis imperfecta have mutations in type I procollagen genes. Another surprise has been the observation that a number of the mutations are tissue specific in terms of their phenotypic manifestations even though the same abnormal pro alpha chains are being synthesized in a variety of tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

The elderly, disabled and handicapped adult burned through abuse and neglect.

A retrospective review of 1152 acute burns treated at the University of Michigan Burn Center during the past 5.5 years identified 26 adult patients in whom abuse and neglect was suspected. These patients, 12 females and 14 males, had an average age of 42 years and average total body area burn (TBA) of 18 per cent. Eight of these cases were in situations in which the question of inflicted injury was raised and 18 were in situations of neglect and/or improper supervision. Seven (27 per cent) died from their injury. All of these adults were either very old, mentally impaired, and/or physically handicapped. Twenty-three were burned in health care facilities or institutions. Adult abuse in the elderly, handicapped and disabled population is similar to that found in child abuse and includes characteristic burn patterns, a story that does not fit the injury, and a delay in seeking medical care. An increased awareness of the problem is necessary for improved diagnosis and management of these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Clinically occult lung cancer with positive sputum cytology and primarily negative radiological findings.

Five patients with early clinically occult squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus were reviewed with respect to previous sputum cytological examinations and clinical investigations. In one patient, selective bronchial washings demonstrated the site of the tumour and the patient was successfully operated. In the remaining four patients the interval between cytological diagnosis and radiological, bronchoscopical and/or histological demonstration of the tumour varied between 2 months and 9 years. It seems possible that the duration of bronchogenic carcinoma in situ may be of similar magnitude as that of carcinoma in situ of the cervix (10-15 years). The considerably higher frequency of early stromal invasion after semi-serial sectioning of carcinoma in situ of the bronchus compared with carcinoma in situ of the cervix is emphasized. The results stress that a diagnostic delay of several years is not acceptable, as the possibility of successful treatment will be greatly diminished in such cases.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

[Selective double-isotope coronary scintigraphy with 99mTc- and 111In-HSA-microspheres].

A small fraction of a commercially available kit for the preparation of human serum albumin (HSA)-microspheres is labeled with 111In or 99mTc. The regional coronary blood flow is determined after selective injection of these labeled microspheres at rest and during rapid atrial pacing using a double-isotope coronary scintigraphy with a gamma camera.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The antiparkinsonian efficacy of bromocriptine.

The antiparkinsonian activity of bromocriptine, a presumed dopaminergic receptor agonist, was investigated in monkeys with surgically induced tremor and in a group of parkinsonian patients. A single administration of bromocriptine resulted in a dose-dependent relief of tremor in monkeys. Repeated administration enhanced this effect. Only mild abnormal involuntary movements were observed and only after repeated administration. Eleven patients with Parkinson's disease were treated with bromocriptine (mean dose, 26.4 mg a day). Clinically obvious improvement was noted in one or more of the cardinal signs of the disease in six patients (responders). No obvious improvement in any of the cardinal signs was noted in the remaining five patients (nonresponders). Clinically, the responders were older and more severely affected and had been on a higher dose of levodopa. However, they had had the disease for a shorter period. It is suggested that failure to respond to bromocriptine may be related to a decrease in the sensitivity of postsynaptic dopaminergic receptors.

Age Factors↗