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Biomedical subjects

C Schönfeld

Publications and source records attributed to C Schönfeld.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Seroprevalence and determinants of diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis antibodies among adults in Berlin, Germany.

The immunity levels against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis were investigated among blood donors (n = 2079) in Berlin. Of all participants, only 60% had full, long-term protection against diphtheria, 72% against tetanus, 87% against poliomyelitis type 1, 77% against poliomyelitis type 2 and 73% against type 3. There was a striking decrease of tetanus and diphtheria immunity levels by age. Immunity levels against tetanus were higher among males, whereas females were better protected against poliomyelitis. After adjusting for confounding effects in logistic regression diphtheria immunity in those aged <40 years was significantly higher in participants from East-Berlin, whereas the immunity levels against poliomyelitis were higher in West-Berlin. These differences reflect the different vaccination policies in East-Germany and West-Germany before 1989. There is a need to improve the immunity levels of the adult population in Berlin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Immunization for adults in foreign travel].

In 1997, 62.2 Mio. Germans traveled abroad according to the research society for holiday & travel--7.4 Mio. traveled outside of Europe. The journey of 26.3 Mio. Germans was associated with an increased risk related to their health. Therefore, the number of travelers is increasing who attend their family physician searching information about necessary vaccination and other options of prevention. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge about health risks and their prevention when traveling abroad. The consulting physician therefore needs reliable sources of information to keep his knowledge up to date. Similar to any other medical speciality, only the continuously educated physician can offer travel medicine with high quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[History of the Turkish angora goat with remarks on the wild ancestor of the domestic coat].

The study describes the ancient (3000 B.C.-15th/16th Century A.D.) and the more recent (16th-20th Century A.D.) history of the Turkish Angora goat as based on a broad and intensive evaluation of relevant literature. Moreover, important structural features of the typical biotope of this caprine breed are explained, essential basic information from a comparative zoological point of view is added with regard to the development of goat domestication, and specific details relating to the history of civilization are supplied. For a better understanding of all the different topics dealt with, selected and mostly original illustrations are included.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1997

Routine immunizations in adult renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination guidelines for transplant recipients include regular boosters of tetanus, diphtheria, and inactivated polio vaccine, but there are few published data on the efficacy of these vaccines in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: Serum antibody values were evaluated before and 4 weeks after tetanus, diphtheria, and inactivated polio vaccination in 164 renal transplant recipients compared with healthy controls. Twelve months later, antibody levels were evaluated in 55 patients. RESULTS: Prebooster tetanus antitoxin values were lower in transplant recipients than in controls. All patients developed protective tetanus antibody levels (> or = 0.01 IU/ml) after vaccination. After 12 months, serum antibodies had decreased, but all patients maintained protective values. Diphtheria antitoxin titers before and after booster vaccination were lower in patients than in controls: 88.5% of patients and 96.2% of controls developed protective diphtheria antibody values. Twelve months after vaccination, diphtheria antitoxin values were below the protective level (0.1 IU/ml) in 38% of patients. Prebooster antibody values to poliovirus types 1 and 3 were comparable in patients and controls, whereas antibodies to poliovirus type 2 were lower in transplant recipients. Seroprotection rates and geometric mean antibody titers after vaccination were equivalent between the two groups for all three poliovirus types. No difference was observed in antibody levels between patients on different immunosuppressive drug regimens. Adverse reactions were significantly less often reported by transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS: In transplant recipients, tetanus and inactivated polio vaccinations are well tolerated and induce protective antibody levels; diphtheria vaccination as currently recommended is less effective and protective antitoxin values decrease rapidly in these patients within 1 year after vaccination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Malaria Chemoprophylaxis in German Tourists: A Prospective Study on Compliance and Adverse Reactions.

Background: The number of tourists visiting malaria endemic regions is continuously increasing. The risk of aquiring malaria infection can largely be prevented by the regular use of chemoprophylactic drugs combined with using protective measures against mosquito bites. In a prospective study we wished to determine the tolerability of chemoprophylactic drugs and the factors that influence compliance with malaria chemoprophylaxis and antimosquito measures. Method: German travelers (n = 6504) who attended the Berlin Institute of Tropical Medicine in Berlin for pretravel medical advice were interviewed by phone 4 weeks after their journeys about compliance with the recommended malaria chemoprophylaxis and the incidence of side effects. Results: Compliance was better with mefloquine (94.5%) than with chloroquine (85.9%) (p<.001) or chloroquine plus proguanil (79.8%) (p<.001). Compliance was influenced by the purpose of travel, duration of stay, places of stay, and adverse reactions. Side effects occurred in 20.6% of the travelers who took chemoprophylactic drugs. There was no significant difference in the incidence of side effects between the three drug regimens, but people who took mefloquine more often reported neuropsychiatric reactions (6.5% versus 3.9% with chloroquine and 3.6% with chloroquine and proguanil; p<.001)). Side effects were usually mild to moderate and in no instance required hospitalization. People who took their drugs with meals less often reported side effects (15.2%) (p<.01). Conclusion: The knowledge of user profiles (and particular factors that presage side effects and noncompliance) may help us to improve pretravel counseling, thereby reducing the risk that travelers may acquire malaria infection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

[Side effects of travel vaccinations. Data collection via telephone survey in Berlin].

The local and systemic side effects of some frequently administered travel vaccines were analysed in a prospective study on 3488 travelers using a standardised telephone interview procedure. The vaccines studied were yellow fever, diphtheria toxoid (d), tetanus diphtheria toxoid (Td), oral polio (OPV) and oral typhoid. Combined vaccinations studied were Td + OPV. Td + yellow fever. d + OPV and d + yellow fever. After single vaccination 30% of those inoculated reported slight local reactions. 3% had moderate local reactions and 18% complained about systemic side effects. After combined vaccinations 47% suffered from slight local reactions, 7% had moderate local reactions and 22% developed systemic side effects. Of all vaccines studied Td produced the highest frequency of local reactions. The combined vaccinations containing yellow fever vaccine were less well tolerated than the corresponding single vaccines. Systemic and local side effects were experienced more frequently by women, except in the case of diphtheria toxoid. Young travelers had more frequent and more severe side effects than older travelers after yellow fever vaccination, and after the combinations of Td + yellow fever. Td + OPV and d + yellow fever vaccinations. The side effects observed were mostly mild and none of the vaccinated travelers consulted a doctor for side effects. After travel vaccinations there are frequent, but well tolerated local and systemic side effects. Combined vaccinations are also well tolerated; their components determine the incidence of side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in anti-HIV positive and negative homosexual men.

The immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine were assessed in anti-HIV positive homosexual men. Fourteen anti-HIV positive (group 1) and 20 anti-HIV negative (group 2) men received vaccine (containing 720 ELISA units of hepatitis A antigen per dose) intramuscularly at 0, 1, and 6 months. Twelve unvaccinated anti-HIV positive men (group 3) were included as controls to evaluate disease progression. Seroconversion (anti-hepatitis V virus (HAV) > or = 20 mlU/ml) was higher in group 2 than group 1 at months 2 (100% vs. 73%) and 7 (100% vs. 77%). Group 2 had higher antibody titres than group 1 at months 1 (201 vs. 92 mlU/ml) and 7 (1,687 vs. 636 mlU/ml). The decline in CD4+ cells between months 0 and 7 was similar in groups 1 and 3 (6.4% vs. 16.2%), showing no evidence for harmful effect of the vaccine on the course of HIV infection. This hepatitis A vaccine appears safe, well tolerated, but less immunogenic in HIV positive homosexual men.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

[Nalbuphine and tramadol for the control of postoperative pain in children].

The postoperative treatment of pain in children is often inadequate: Periphal acting analgetics are not sufficient, opioids are believed to be dangerous because of their respiratory depression. Nalbuphine and tramadol are two narcotics with only a few side effects. The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of these drugs in postoperative pain therapy in children aged 1-9 years. 30 children in each group received in a double-blind and randomized manner either 0.15-0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine or 0.75-1.0 mg/kg tramadol im. Pain intensity and sleep-awake behaviour were documented by a visual analogue scale for 24 h. After 1 h 70% of the patients in both groups had no pain and were sleeping. There was no change in heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Only the diastolic blood pressure decreased as did the respiratory rate, while the tcpCO2 estimated in some patients remained constant. Narcotic reinjections were necessary three times in the nalbuphine group and four times in the tramadol group. Typical opioid side effects were found to be equal in both groups.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1972

Screening, fermentation, isolation, and chracterization of trypanomycin, a new antibiotic.

A Streptomyces strain which is similar to S. diastatochromogenes (Krainsky) Waksman et Henrici 1948 sensu Hütter (1967) was found to produce a new antibiotic designated trypanomycin. The red-pigment antibiotic, which has novel trypanocidal activity in vitro and in vivo, was isolated from a C-, N-, and iron-containing culture of the strain IMET JA 10081/9 by extraction with organic solvents, transfer into the aqueous phase, reextraction with organic solvents at pH 6.8, precipitation by hydrocarbons, and purification by chromatographic methods. Trypanomycin has indicator properties. The main constituents of the antibiotic mixture are readily soluble in water and are very stable in distilled water at room temperature (28 C) for 24 hr. The composition of the base of trypanomycin A(2) (melting point, 175 to 183 C) corresponds to the empirical formula C(41-42)H(52-56)NO(21-22). The absorption spectra in the ultraviolet and visible regions are very similar to those of the 4,5,8-trioxyanthrachinones. Trypanomycin has strong antiprotozoal activity, e.g., against trypanosomes. The natural substance additionally inhibits the growth of gram-positive bacteria, stable as well as unstable L-forms of gram-negative bacteria, mycoplasmas, yeast protoplasts, and tumor cells in vitro. The LD(50) of trypanomycin in mice was 60 mg/kg when administered intravenously and 31 mg/kg on intraperitoneal administration. If the antibiotic was added to cultures of animal or human cells in vitro, mitotic inhibition and chromosomal aberrations resulted. Trypanomycin differs in its biological activities and chromatographic behavior from other anthracyclines, e.g., cinerubine A and B, daunomycin, adriamycin, nogalamycin, rutilantin, pyrromycin, cyclamycin, and ryemycin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗