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Biomedical subjects

B Wachter

Publications and source records attributed to B Wachter.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Social, state-dependent and environmental modulation of faecal corticosteroid levels in free-ranging female spotted hyenas.

Little is known about to what extent the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be state dependent and vary in the same species between environments. Here we tested whether the faecal corticosteroid concentrations of matrilineal adult female spotted hyenas are influenced by social and reproductive status in adjacent ecosystems and whether they vary between periods with and without social stress. Females in the Serengeti National Park frequently become socially subordinate intruders in other hyena territories by undertaking long-distance foraging trips to migratory herds, whereas in the Ngorongoro Crater they usually forage inside their own small territories on resident prey. The faecal corticosteroid concentrations in Serengeti females were significantly higher than in Ngorongoro females. Energy expenditure by lactation is exceptionally high in spotted hyenas and this may be reflected in their corticosteroid levels. The faecal corticosteroid levels in both populations were higher in lactating than in non-lactating females. During periods of social stability, faecal corticosteroid concentrations increased in non-lactating females but not in lactating females as social status declined. Lactating Serengeti females had significantly higher faecal corticosteroid concentrations during periods with acute severe social stress than during periods without, indicating that the HPA axis is sensitive to social stimuli even in lactating females. So far few studies have used non-invasive monitoring methods for assessing social stress in freeranging animals. This study demonstrates for the first time, to the authors' knowledge, that corticosteroid concentrations may differ between periods with and without social stress for a free-ranging female mammal and that the modulating effect of social status may depend on reproductive status.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2001

Extracranial lower cranial nerve sheath tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the clinicoradiographic features of lower cranial nerve sheath tumors and to outline surgical approaches that allow the safe and complete resection of these lesions. METHODS: Thirteen patients with lower cranial nerve sheath tumors of the infratemporal fossa were surgically treated between 7/88 and 10/99. A retrospective chart analysis provided details pertaining to clinical manifestations, radiographic assessment, intraoperative findings, tumor histology, and postoperative results. RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms were neck pressure and voice change while submucosal palatal fullness and vocal cord paralysis were the most common presenting signs. All tumors were removed via lateral skull base approaches and the most common postoperative sequelae was dysphasia. CONCLUSION: Lower cranial nerve sheath tumors of the infratemporal fossa usually reach considerable size before diagnosis because of a naturally slow growth rate in this relatively silent location. The safe surgical removal of these tumors, based on superior control of the internal carotid artery, can be achieved through the use of contemporary lateral skull base techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Preoperative differences between male and female patients with sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the differences between female and male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in the preoperative period. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized cross-sectional study. METHODS: An analysis of 686 patients (111 women and 575 men) with OSAS was completed. Multivariate modeling techniques were employed to correlate gender with the preoperative respiratory disturbance index (RDI), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI), body mass index (BMI), age, and initial symptoms. RESULTS: At presentation, the male patients were significantly younger and had a lower BMI and a higher RDI and AI than the female patients. For the entire OSAS population studied, the RDI increased as the BMI increased (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.35, P = <.001). For the female patients there was a weaker correlation (r = 0.21, P =.034), and in male patients there was a stronger correlation (r = 0.40, P <.001). For the entire population there was a negative correlation between age and RDI (r = -0.15, P <.001). In female patients there was a nonsignificant correlation (r = -0.09, P =.35), and in male patients the correlation was significant (r = -0.16, P <.001). There was no difference in the reporting of the number of symptoms based on gender (P =.355). Female patients noted headaches on awakening more commonly than male patients (P =.001), and male patients noted snoring (P =.014) and stopping breathing during sleep (P =.001) more often than female patients. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis demonstrated that within a surgical population sample, gender differences exist. The findings of this series were as follows: 1) Apnea severity in women was less weight-dependent than in men; (2) in men there was a significant negative correlation between age and apnea severity; and (3) female and male patients reported the same number of signs or symptoms on presentation, although certain signs and symptoms were more commonly reported based on gender. Current clinical evaluation practices must take into account this gender disparity.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1997

The anaerobic endproduct lactate has a behavioural and metabolic signalling function in the shore crab

This study presents the first evidence that, in invertebrates, the anaerobic endproduct lactate has an alarm signal function and induces metabolic and behavioural responses as in the anuran Bufo marinus. In support of this function, behavioural hypothermia was demonstrated in the shore crab Carcinus maenas. The animals moved to a cooler environment when exposed to hypoxic conditions. A decrease in preferred temperature of the same magnitude was also found when normoxic animals were injected with an iso-osmotic lactate solution resulting in a haemolymph concentration of approximately 12 mmol l-1. Under normoxic (PO2=>18 kPa) and moderately hypoxic conditions (PO2=12 kPa), injection of this lactate solution also caused a significant increase in the rate of oxygen consumption (100 and 50 % respectively). The increase in the rate of oxygen consumption was smaller and delayed, but lasted longer, under hypoxic conditions compared with normoxic conditions. Low but significant correlations between levels of lactate and levels of adrenaline, octopamine and tryptophan suggest the involvement of biogenic amines in the mediation of the signal.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Haemolymph flow distribution, cardiac performance and ventilation during moderate walking activity in Cancer magister (Dana) (Decapoda, Crustacea)

Adult male Cancer magister (Dana) were equipped with pulsed-Doppler flowmeters and pressure transducers for simultaneous measurement of heart and ventilation frequencies, haemolymph flow through each of the major arterial systems and cardiac output and for calculation of stroke volume. Each variable was measured at rest and during two consecutive periods of moderate treadmill walking activity and recovery. During activity, haemolymph flow through the sternal and anterolateral arteries increased, while flow through the hepatic arterial system decreased. This resulted in a redistribution of haemolymph flow in which a proportion of cardiac output was shifted from the anterior, posterior and hepatic arterial systems to the sternal arterial system. The relative proportion of the cardiac output flowing through the anterolateral artery remained constant. This indicated that oxygen supply was shifted away from the digestive system to the muscles of the walking legs and the respiratory system. Cardiac output, heart rate and stroke volume all increased in response to activity. The increase in cardiac output is the result of a large increase in stroke volume and a small increase in heart rate. A doubling of ventilation rate also occurred during activity. Both the circulatory and ventilatory systems were restored to pre-activity values by 60 min of recovery.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

2H(d

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

Rubescenslysin and phallolysin release marker molecules from phospholipid cholesterol liposomes.

Multilamellar liposomes were prepared from phospholipid, cholesterol and dicetyl phosphate and marked with potassium chromate or with glucose. They were treated with 0.5--50 haemolytic units (HU)/ml of rubescenslysin from Amanita rubescens or of phallolysin from Amanita phalloides. Rubescenslysin caused a dose-dependent release of marker molecules from phosphatidylcholine and from sphingomyelin liposomes. A statistically significant marker leakage was caused by 0.5--1 HU/ml from liposomes prepared from sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine from egg yolk, and among the synthetic phosphatidylcholines from distearoyl greater than dipalmitoyl greater than dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine. With the lysin concentrations tested, at the best 50% of total markers were released from sphingomyelin liposomes and 75--95% from phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Also phallolysin released marker molecules from phosphatidylcholine liposomes; statistically significant amounts were released by 0.5 HU/ml from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and from dipalmitoyl congruent to distearoyl greater than dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes; 60--90% of maximum release was achieved at the best. However, liposomes prepared from (bovine) sphingomyelin were resistant to phallolysin; even with 50 HU/ml no leakage of markers was observed. Heat-inactivated rubescenslysin, heat-inactivated phallolysin and human serum albumin failed to release markers. Our results lead to the conclusion that both, rubescenslysin and phallolysin, interact with membrane phospholipids, phallolysin showing a higher degree of specificity.

Amanitins↗