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Biomedical subjects

C Marx

Publications and source records attributed to C Marx.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

V/Q defects and deep venous thrombosis following total hip replacement.

Seventy-two patients undergoing elective total hip replacement were studied with bilateral venography, pre-operative and post-operative lung scans. Twelve belonged to a control group that received placebo injections and 60 patients to treatment groups that received low molecular weight heparin. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis was 11 (92%) of 12 patients in the control group and 18 (30%) of 60 patients in the treatment group (X2: P < 0.001). The incidence of pulmonary embolism (new unmatched perfusion defects) was five (42%) of the 12 patients in the control group and five (8.3%) of the 60 patients in the treatment groups (X2: P < 0.002). The incidence of pulmonary embolism (new unmatched perfusion defects) was eight (27.5%) of 29 patients with deep venous thrombosis and two (4.6%) of 43 without deep venous thrombosis (X2: P < 0.02). Of the ten patients who had pulmonary embolism according to this study's criteria (one or more new defect on perfusion, unmatched on the ventilation scan), eight would have been classified as high probability by the Biello criteria, and only five by the PIOPED criteria, if the pre-operative scans were not available. We conclude that having a pre-operative lung scan improves ability to interpret the postoperative lung scans in high risk patients.

Elective Surgical Procedures↗

[Experiences with definitive contraception--results of a follow-up study of sterilized women].

Within the framework of a retrospective analysis, 96 patients who had undergone sterilisation at the Department of Gynaecology at the University of Cologne between 1988 and 1991, had been questioned as to whether they were content about their former decision in favour of a definitive contraception. At present, 94% of these women fully agreed with their former decision. The circumstances influencing the decision for sterilisation before the operation i.e. age, number of children, motivation, situation between partners, date of operation and medical consultation - were compared to those of a number of sterilised women seeking refertilization. We want to stress the importance of a sufficiently long decision process, accompanied by individual medical consultation.

Adult↗

Late, painful, subungual hyperkeratosis in incontinentia pigmenti.

The postpubertal appearance of subungual, painful keratotic tumors is a rare feature of incontinentia pigmenti. A patient affected by incontinentia pigmenti developed subungual, painful, nontumoral, hyperkeratotic lesions of the hands at 10 years of age. The mildness of the subungual lesions may be explained by the early stage of the disorder, but it is difficult to correlate the severity of the fingertip pain with the absence of true tumoral swelling. To our knowledge this is the youngest patient reported so far and the only one with a prepubertal expression of this puzzling disorder.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Evaluation of risk and diagnostic value of quantitative assays for anti-Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgE, and IgM and analytical study of specific IgG in immunodeficient patients.

To determine their prognostic and diagnostic values for toxoplasmosis in immunodepressed subjects, we assayed immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgE antibodies by means of immunocapture (IC) tests, with revelation done by using a suspension of T. gondii (ICT). We also carried out a simultaneous analytical study of IgG antibodies on cellulose acetate membranes by using the comparative immunological profile method and an enzyme-linked immunofiltration assay (ELIFA). A total of 1,238 samples (serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and aqueous humor from 318 patients) were tested. IgA and IgE antibodies were detected in all heart, kidney, and liver transplant recipients with clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis; IgA was detected in the aqueous humor of a patient with chorioretinitis. In patients with AIDS-related toxoplasmosis, including the cerebral form, IgA and IgE antibodies or a significant modification of ELIFA IgG values were observed in 38, 19, and 25% of patients, respectively. IgM was detected by ICT only in 12% of patients and aided the diagnosis in 1 of 71 patients. IC tests for specific IgA and IgE alone and combined with ELIFA were positive in 39 and 46% of patients who developed clinical toxoplasmosis, respectively. In a serial study of 16 patients in whom at least one of these three tests was positive, a significant immunological signal sometimes preceded clinical onset by 1, 6, and even 17 months. Similarly, in a group of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with evidence of previous exposure to T. gondii but no clinical manifestations, IgA, IgE, and IgA and/or IgE antibodies were detected in only 11, 4, and 12% of patients, respectively. These two situations point to peripheral T. gondii reactivation. IgA and IgE emerged as interesting markers of the risk of toxoplasmosis in immunodepressed patients. They may also provide valuable assistance in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, especially because tests for specific IgM are disappointing. However, at least one in two patients with toxoplasmosis showed no detectable immunological reaction, suggesting that this polyisotypic approach should be combined with other noninvasive methods such as gene amplification.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Subcellular localization and quantitative analysis of Toxoplasma gondii target antigens of specific immunoglobulins G, M, A, and E.

The target antigens of specific immunoglobulins G, M, A, and E from patients with acquired acute toxoplasmosis were determined using immunocytochemistry. The relative repartition of these antigens in four cellular compartments of Toxoplasma (membrane complex, apical area, rhoptries, and dense granules) was quantitatively evaluated. Rhoptry antigens mainly react positively with IgA. Membrane, submembrane area (membrane complex), and rhoptry antigens are immunodominant for IgA and IgM. Apical area antigens are recognized by IgM two times more than IgG and IgA. IgE recognized only rhoptry antigens. The localization of pathogenetically antigenic components and their identification by the immune system appeared to be of importance for selection of immunodominant or recombinant antigens. Such localization would improve laboratory diagnosis of serious congenital toxoplasmosis or in immunocompromised patients with toxoplasmic complications after cyst reactivation.

Animals↗

Rapid detection of proteins by enzyme-linked immunofiltration assay after transfer onto nitrocellulose membranes.

Enzyme-linked immunofiltration assay (ELIFA) for labeling transferred proteins is an interesting and powerful technique for the rapid specific detection (15 min) of proteins immobilized on nitrocellulose or nylon membranes (0.20 and 0.45 micron). ELIFA does not require fastidious handling of the membranes. Saturation, specific labeling and washing procedures are achieved by filtration, controlled by a monitoring unit which regulates the flow rate and ensures excellent specificity, repetition and reproducibility. The recycling by closed circuit or by repetitive inversion of the flow direction offers the advantage of reducing the volumes of expensive reagents while simultaneously increasing the sensitivity of the technique. The detection limit is at least as low as 1-5 ng using directly or indirectly enzymatically labelled probes. ELIFA may be extended to the identification of glycoproteins using specific ligands such as lectins or to the immunocapture of an antigen using specific antibodies immobilized on an activated membrane. ELIFA complements fast separation, by e.g., isoelectric focusing, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and accelerated electrotransfer to membranes with rapid detection reducing the total time for separation transfer and detection to less than 2 h.

Animals↗

Detection of specific immunoglobulin E in patients with toxoplasmosis.

An immunocapture assay was developed to detect Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in sera from adults with acute acquired infection or reactivation and from babies with congenital toxoplasmosis. The components of this assay were monoclonal antibody to human IgE, samples from patients, and T. gondii tachyzoites treated with Formalin. When T. gondii-specific IgE antibodies were present, visually detectable agglutination occurred. Sera, umbilical cord blood, fetal blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and amniotic fluid were tested by this method. Specific IgE antibodies were detected in sera from 25 (86%) of 29 adults who developed specific IgG antibody during pregnancy or had specific IgA and IgM antibodies. Specific IgE was present early during infection, at the time that IgM antibodies were present, and slightly preceding the presence of specific IgA antibodies. In 23 patients tested serially, IgE antibodies never persisted for longer than 4 months. No nonspecific anti-T. gondii IgE was detected in sera from uninfected individuals. Maternal IgE antibodies did not cross the placenta. In sera of patients with congenital toxoplasmosis, specific IgE antibodies were found at birth, during the first year of life, and during immunologic recrudescence following discontinuation of pyrimethamine-sulfonamide therapy. The IgE immunocapture assay is simple to perform. It is especially useful for determining when T. gondii was acquired by recently infected pregnant women.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. A 4.5-6-year follow-up study with a metal-backed tibial component.

The results in the first 50 patients to receive an improved-design unicompartmental knee prosthesis were reviewed after an average follow-up period of 5.5 years. The prosthesis is composed of a metal-backed polyethylene tibial component and a wide femoral surface replacement that are fixed to bone with acrylic cement. Forty-five patients with 55 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties were available for clinical study. Ninety-two percent of the knees were rated as having a good or excellent result, and 94% had lasting relief of pain. There have been no failures requiring revision. A radiographic review demonstrated that no tibial component was bordered by a complete radiolucent line. There was no subsidence or loosening of either the tibial or femoral components, and there was no instance of local osteolysis. These results, coupled with a 14-year follow-up experience with the original-design unicondylar prosthesis, encourages the authors to remain advocates of this procedure in selected patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis.

Aged↗

Neonatal effects of maternal nadolol therapy.

Described is the case of an infant, exposed during gestation to the beta-blocker nadolol, who experienced cardiorespiratory depression, mild hypoglycemia, and growth retardation. The longer duration of action of nadolol and the fact that it is only 30% protein bound make it less desirable than propranolol for use as a beta-blocker during pregnancy.

Female↗

[Corium interpositionplasty of the elbow and wrist joint].

The problems involved in the reconstruction of upper extremities, in particular their differentiated movement and the intentionality of the patient concerned are briefly discussed. Three cases presenting typical indications for the interposition of the dermis in the wrist and elbow joints are presented. On the basis of our observations, the indications for implantation of a prosthesis are rare.

Adult↗

[Hemodynamic consequences of umbilical arterial catheterization. Photoplethysmographic study].

The hemodynamic consequences of umbilical arterial infusions in newborns can be registered by photoplethysmography. Thirty-nine children were observed according to the same protocol: it was possible to recognize, on the side of the infusion, without other clinical symptoms, very early but after different times: - in 3 cases, the supression of arteriolar oscillations, back to normal after 24 hours in one case, and after several weeks in 2 cases; - in 2 cases, a transitory increase of arteriolar oscillations; - in 7 cases, an elective decrease of the arteriolar systolic pressure, with unchanged diastolic pressure. In 4/7 cases, it became normal in less than 3 days; - in 3 cases, a decrease in arteriolar systolic and diastolic pressures, during 2 days.

Catheterization↗

[Active exchange of Na and K in perfused and procaine arrested rat heart].

Recovery of normal Na and K contents of perfused and procaine arrested rat ventricules occurs with a rate constant of 0.109 mn-1 (i.e. 60% of restoration is achieved in 7.5 mn) after a 45 mn arrest of active transport produced by perfusion with a K free Krebs-Henseleit solution. Active Na efflux is nearly equal to K influx. Peak Na Efflux is estimated to be 11.2 muEq.g-1dry.mn-1 or 19.7 pM.cm-2.s-1, i.e. more than 4 times leakage flux of the resting heart. Na efflux is not proportional to Na intracellular concentration but to the square of this concentration.

Animals↗