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Biomedical subjects

C Bieglmayer

Publications and source records attributed to C Bieglmayer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

How (not) to diagnose growth hormone deficiency in adults: stimulated serum concentrations of growth hormone in healthy subjects and in patients with pituitary macroadenomas.

The secretion of growth hormone (GH) stimulated by GH-releasing hormone ([GHRH] 100 micrograms intravenously [IV]) was determined in 33 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas before and after transsphenoidal adenomectomy and in 28 controls. Patients who needed substitution therapy for at least one additional pituitary hormone presented with lower GH secretion than the remaining patients with pituitary tumors. However, there was a marked overlap of stimulated GH secretion between these two groups (3.2 +/- 4.3 ng/mL and 7.2 +/- 6.6 ng/mL, respectively) and between either group with the control group (7.1 +/- 5.5 ng/mL). In an independent investigation, the effect of IV GHRH (100 micrograms) on the secretion of GH in seven healthy volunteers was shown to be comparable to that seen during an insulin tolerance test ([ITT] 0.1 U/kg IV). Thus, the GHRH stimulation test, a simple and comparatively unharmful procedure, is a useful alternative to the ITT in patients with potential pituitary defects. However, the pronounced overlap of stimulated serum GH concentrations in patients with pituitary macroadenomas and those estimated in healthy subjects and in patients with nonpituitary diseases underlines the difficulty in biochemically defining acquired GH deficiency in adults. We suggest that GH therapy in adults should primarily be instituted in patients with additional defects in anterior pituitary function.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1997

Impact of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system on blood pressure response to intravenous enalaprilat in patients with hypertensive crises.

The purpose of the study was to evalute the impact of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system on blood pressure (BP) response in patients with hypertensive emergencies and urgencies treated with intravenous enalaprilat. Thirty-five patients with a systolic BP (SBP) >210 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) >110 mm Hg received 5 mg enalaprilat intravenously. The extent of systolic and DBP reduction was correlated with pretreatment concentrations of angiotensin II (ANGII) (SBP: r = -0.47; P = 0.006; DBP: r = -0.55; P = 0.001) and plasma renin activity (PRA) (SBP: r = -0.49; P = 0.003; DBP: r = 0.48; P = 0.007). Non-responders to enalaprilat exhibited significant lower pretreatment levels of PRA, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ANG II compared to responders (PRA: 5.5 +/- 3.7 vs 1.1 +/- 2.2 ng/ml/h, P < 0.001; ACE: 12.8 +/- 3.5 vs 8.2 +/- 4.8 U/l, P = 0.003; ANG 11:8.7 +/- 6.2 vs 5.0 +/- 3.8 pg/ml, P = 0.04). In patients with severe hypotension following application of enalaprilat ANG II concentrations were significantly higher compared to patients with mean arterial BP reduction <25% (12.3 +/- 6.7 vs 5.6 +/- 4.0 pg/ml,P = 0.013). These data indicate that PRA and ANG II are the major determinants for BP response to enalaprilat. This relation between BP response and RAA system activity have important clinical implications for the treatment of patients with severe hypertension. Primary therapeutic failure indicates that the RAA system contributes very little to the hypertensive status of the patient. Thus, repetitive application on an ACE inhibitor in primary responders is clinically unhelpful and may result in an unnecessary delay of an effective BP reduction. In contrast, high ANG II concentrations are associated with a considerable risk for severe hypotension after enolanalaprilat application. Therefore, the status of the RAA system determines the efficacy as well as the safety of ACE inhibitor treatment in patients with severe hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Routine measurement of plasma calcitonin in nodular thyroid diseases.

In a prospective study, plasma concentrations of human calcitonin (hCT) were determined in 1062 consecutive patients with thyroid nodular disease. Basal plasma hCT was above the normal range (>6 pg/mL) in 55 patients and was elevated up to more than 100 pg/mL (range, 127-5459) in 3 of these 55 patients. A pentagastrin-induced rise in hCT up to more than 100 pg/mL was observed in only 1 of 38 patients with a basal concentration of hCT between 5-10 pg/mL, but was found in 10 of 31 patients with basal hCT ranging from 10-100 pg/mL. Histologically, 7 of the 14 patients with either basal or stimulated plasma concentrations of hCT above 100 pg/mL presented C cell hyperplasia, which in one case showed histological transition into a small (diameter, 3 mm) medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Including this patient, MTC was found in 6 of the 12 patients. We conclude that the routine determination of hCT in all patients with thyroid nodular disease should be supplemented by pentagastrin-stimulation when the basal hCT concentration exceeds 10 pg/mL. Patients with basal and/or stimulated plasma CT concentrations of more than 100 pg/mL should be operated on because they run a substantial risk to suffer either MTC or C cell hyperplasia, a potentially precancerous condition. This will increase the chance of a timely diagnosis of MTC and provide the chance of curative surgery.

Calcitonin↗
PubMed1996

Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens.

BACKGROUND: The coincidence of climacteric symptoms and the beginning of skin aging suggests that estrogen deficiency may be a common and important factor in the perimenopausal woman. Often hormones have been considered important in endogenous aging of the skin, but their role has not been clearly defined. Therefore, we investigated, whether topical treatment of the skin with estrogen could reverse some of the changes in the aging skin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effects of 0.01% estradiol and 0.3% estriol compounds were compared in 59 preclimacteric women with skim aging symptoms. Monthly determinations of estrodiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin (PRL) were done and the monthly clinical monitoring was supplemented by measurements of skin hydration by corneometry and profilometry. In 10 patients, skin biopsies were taken for immunohistochemical determination of collagen types I and III. RESULTS: After treatment for 6 months, elasticity and firmness of the skin had markedly improved and the wrinkle depth and pore sizes had decreased by 61 to 100% in both groups. Furthermore, skin moisture had increased and the measurement of wrinkles using skin profilometry, revealed significant, or even highly significant, decreases of wrinkle depth in the estradiol and the estriol groups, respectively. On immunohistochemistry, significant increases of Type III collagen labeling were combined with increased numbers of collagen fibers at the end of the treatment period. As to hormone levels, only those of PRL had increased significantly and no systemic hormonal side effects were noted.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1996

Early postoperative stress: video-assisted wedge resection/lobectomy vs conventional axillary thoracotomy.

Postoperative pain is a major cause of ineffective breathing after lung surgery, predisposing patients to hypoxemia. Because potent analgesics like opioids depress ventilation and other analgesic techniques are time-consuming, efficient postoperative pain therapy is difficult. Therefore, a less painful surgical approach could be beneficial. Forty-seven patients with diagnosis of a pulmonary nodule were prospectively studied. Patients were assigned to a video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) group (n=22) or a group undergoing axillary thoracotomy (n=25). Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, plasma glucose levels, plasma epinephrine and plasma norepinephrine levels, as well as arterial oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) tension were determined the day before surgery, and 3, 15, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. Postoperative piritramide (a synthetic morphine compound) demand was recorded. VAS values were significantly lower (p<0.05) during the whole observation period in the VATS group. Significantly higher epinephrine levels were observed 3 and 15 h after surgery (267.4 +/- 28 vs 111.8 +/- 13 ng/L; p<0.01; and 176.6 +/- 46.5 vs 96 +/- 14.5 ng/L; p<0.05) in the thoracotomy group, whereas there was no significant difference in norepinephrine (correction of norephinephrine) levels. Piritramide demand was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the VATS group throughout the whole observation period. There was no difference in PaCO2 values but PaO2 Values were higher in the VATS group over 72 h, with maximum differences occurring at 15 h after operation: 60.9 +/- 1.9 vs 49.2 +/- 2.4 mm Hg (p<0.01). In conclusion, the videoendoscopic approach is associated with less postoperative pain and better oxygenation than traditional surgical approaches.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1995

New treatment of atrophic acne scars by iontophoresis with estriol and tretinoin.

BACKGROUND: Common treatment of atrophic acne scars consists of invasive methods such as dermabrasion, chemopeeling, or implantation of bovine collagen. In our study a new noninvasive treatment method consisting of local iontophoresis is demonstrated. Local iontophoresis was performed with either estriol--a mainly topically active estrogen--or with tretinoin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen women were treated with estriol iontophoresis twice weekly for a period of 3 months. In addition to photographic and clinical documentation of the skin, venous blood for determination of serum levels of prolactin and estradiol according to standard radioimmunoassay methods was obtained monthly. Tretinoin iontophoresis was performed according to the same time schedule in 28 patients (19 women and 9 men) with atrophic acne scars. RESULTS: Improvement of acne scars was observed in 93% of patients treated with tretinoin iontophoresis and in 100% of the group treated with estriol iontophoresis. No hormonal changes were noted in the estrogen group. Side effects involving the skin appeared in the tretinoin group in 4 cases and consisted of increased dryness and of retinoid dermatitis. CONCLUSION: Both treatments were shown to be clinically effective in decreasing acne scars and persistence of effects. This promising new therapeutic approach may thus replace invasive treatment methods in many patients.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1995

Concentrations of various arachidonic acid metabolites in menstrual fluid are associated with menstrual pain and are influenced by hormonal contraceptives.

In a pilot study we investigated the association between concentrations of various eicosanoids in menstrual blood with pain and oral contraceptive use. Menstrual fluid was collected on tampons by 12 women who did not use an oral contraceptive but suffered from slight primary dysmenorrhea and by three pain-free women who used an oral contraceptive. Eicosanoids (cyclooxygenase products: 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2, prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin F2 alpha, 12-hydroxy-heptadecatrienoic acid; lipoxygenase products: 5-, 12-, 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4, leukotriene D4, leukotriene E4) and female sex steroids (17 beta-estradiol and progesterone) were analyzed by the combined use of high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. 12-HETE was the main arachidonic acid metabolite. An increased metabolism of arachidonic acid was associated with pain, especially when synthesis of 12-HETE was elevated. Oral contraceptive use decreased the synthesis of prostaglandins as well as leukotrienes. The concordant changes of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products in dysmenorrhea or in oral contraceptive use may be explained by an increased or decreased phospholipid metabolism, respectively.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Treatment of skin ageing symptoms in perimenopausal females with estrogen compounds. A pilot study.

A wide range of somatic symptoms of the perimenopausal female is due to the decrease of estrogen at that age. Minor attention has been paid hitherto to the involvement of estrogens in female skin ageing symptoms. In our study, the ageing skin of the face of perimenopausal females was treated with a 0.3% estriol cream (8 patients) or with a 0.01% estradiol cream (10 patients) for 6 months. Dermatologic follow-up was performed monthly. At each follow-up venous blood for radioimmuno assay determination of prolactin (PRL), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) was sampled. In addition, prior to and after 3 and 6 months of treatment, gynecological examinations for climacteric symptoms, mammary and colposcopic investigations and vaginal smears for cytology were performed. Both treatment groups showed improvement of the various skin ageing symptoms at the end of treatment. The effects of the group treated with topical estriol were slightly superior with regard to their extent and onset. No hormonal side effects were noted either clinically or by hormone monitoring. According to these preliminary results, local estrogen treatment appears to be a promising new approach for the treatment of skin ageing in perimenopausal females. However, for minimizing the risk of systemic hormonal side effects, concentrations and size of application field should be limited.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1994

Hormonal derangements in patients with severe alcohol intoxication.

Controversial results of fluid and electrolyte derangements in patients with moderate alcohol intoxication have been described. However, no information is available about severe alcohol intoxication. We investigated differences of hormonal disorders between alcohol-habituated and alcohol-naive subjects with severe ethanol intoxication. The hormonal derangements and recommendations on therapy of these patients are discussed. Thirty-three patients [10 alcohol-naive (group A) and 23 alcohol-habituated (group B) subjects] with severe alcohol intoxication (blood ethanol > 200 mg/dl) were selected for the study. Electrolytes and osmolarity of serum and urine, blood ethanol, vasopressin, renin, and aldosterone were determined on admission 2, 4, and 6 hr later. Fluid balance was calculated for each hour. All patients received isotonic saline solution according to urine production. Group A: On admission, serum osmolarity was increased (308 mOsmol/kg). Concomitantly, vasopressin level was elevated on admission (9.12 pg/ml). Increased serum osmolarity was correlated with elevated vasopressin levels (r = 0.8211; p < 0.005). Serum electrolytes, renin, and aldosterone values were within normal ranges. Group B: On admission, vasopressin level was significantly decreased (0.9 pg/ml), despite an elevated serum osmolarity (309 mOsmol/kg). Serum osmolarity remained high despite a sufficient fluid substitution. In addition, vasopressin level remained suppressed over the observation period. Aldosterone level was significantly increased on admission (319 ng/ml). Accordingly, serum sodium was increased from 142 to 148 mM/liter, and serum potassium was decreased from 3.9 to 3.4 mM/liter. Response to hyperosmolarity due to severe alcohol intoxication is different in alcohol-naive and alcohol-habituated subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Development and influence of an endogenous serum luteinizing hormone surge after ovulation induction in stimulated cycles.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the endogenous serum luteinizing hormone (LH) discharge in stimulated cycles--either simultaneously with or shortly after exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration--is influenced by serum steroid hormones and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). We also tested whether the LH discharge affects intrafollicular hormone metabolism and oocyte fertilization. In a group of 46 women with tubal pathology who were undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), follicular fluids were collected during oocyte retrieval. In addition blood samples were drawn daily, starting at cycle day 7 until the day of oocyte retrieval. LH, FSH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin were determined in all samples of serum and follicular fluid. Oocyte maturation was classified according to the morphology of the oocyte corona-cumulus complex. Of the 46 women studied, 15 showed no LH surge (group A) and 31 developed an endogenous LH surge (group B). Serum samples showed no significant differences between the two groups in follicular phase estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin. Only levels of serum FSH showed a significant difference between groups A and B (p < 0.0005). In follicular fluid samples LH (p < 0.05) and FSH levels (p < 0.005) were significantly different. Fertilization rate and cleavage rate, however, did not differ significantly. The late endogenous LH surge occurring simultaneously with or shortly after hCG application for ovulation induction did not affect intrafollicular steroid metabolism, oocyte maturation, fertilization rate or cleavage rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Measurement of eicosanoids in menstrual fluid by the combined use of high pressure chromatography and radioimmunoassay.

Methods are described for the quantification of various eicosanoids (cyclooxygenase products: 6-KETO, TXB2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, DHK; lipoxygenase products: 5-, 12-, 15-HETE, LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4) in menstrual blood collected by tampons. Samples were extracted with acidified ethanol. After purification by SEP-PACK C18 columns, the compounds were separated by reversed phase HPLC using a ternary gradient system. The eicosanoid concentrations of the fractionated eluents were measured by radioimmunoassay and corrected for recovery. 12-HETE was the most prominent metabolite of arachidonic acid in menstrual blood (mean: 1174 ng/g blood). With the exception of PGF2 alpha and TXB2 (mean: 343 and 212 ng/g blood, respectively) other eicosanoids were detected in remarkable lower concentrations.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1992

The significance of determining CA 15-3 in the cytosol of breast cancer.

The identification of tumor markers in patients who had undergone operation for breast cancer provides important information in the follow-up in addition to evaluation by clinical and visual methods. The aim of our study was to determine the clinical prospective value of CA 15-3, mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen in preoperative measurement of serum samples in patients with primary breast cancer, and to determine CA 15-3 and steroid receptors in the cytosol of the tumor. The results show that the most exact correlation occurred between serum CA 15-3 and the different stages of the tumor. However, there is no conclusive evidence for the prognosis and the course of the disease from preoperative findings of tumor markers in serum samples or in the cytosol of the tumor in patients with breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

CA15.3, MCA, CAM26, CAM29 are members of a polymorphic family of mucin-like glycoproteins.

The monoclonal antibodies that define the tumor markers CA15.3, MCA, CAM26 and CAM29 were found to react with coexisting epitopes present on mucin-like glycoproteins. Despite their immunologic relationship, the markers showed distinct concentration levels in various body fluids. Particularly, MCA and CAM26 were high in urine and amniotic fluid. Sera collected from pregnant or lactating women and especially human milk samples contained considerable amounts of CAM29 and MCA, but comparably small quantities of CAM26 and CA15.3. The concentrations of CA15.3, MCA, CAM26 and CAM29 were correlated in serum samples from patients with metastatic breast cancer. The discrepancy between immunologic relationship and dissimilar biologic behavior could be explained by a limited coexistence of epitopes on subsets of heterogeneous polymorphic mucins. All mucin markers which were investigated showed improved sensitivity for metastatic breast cancer compared with the established marker CEA.

Adolescent↗