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Biomedical subjects

C Witt

Publications and source records attributed to C Witt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[The accidental aspiration and ingestion of petroleum in a "fire eater"].

A 26-year-old man, practicing for a variety performance as "fire-eater", accidentally inhaled and ingested about 10 ml petroleum. Soon afterwards he developed dyspnoea, an urge to cough, fever up to 39 degrees C and loss of retentiveness. He was treated as an out-patient with doxycycline, 100 mg daily, and aspirin, 500 mg three times daily. While this reduced the dyspnoea, the elevated temperature persisted and he had haemoptysis. Chest x-ray and computed tomography 12 days after the aspiration revealed areas of atelectasis and of liquefaction necroses. Bronchoscopic and cytological examinations showed eosinophilic alveolitis and mucosal necrosis in both main bronchi. The symptoms were improved by two inhalations of beclomethasone four times daily, and systemic treatment with prednisolone, 50 mg daily, together with parenteral antibiotic administration (cefotaxime, 1.0 g twice daily). The focal lung lesions regressed completely within a few weeks. Five months after the aspiration computed tomography merely demonstrated discrete scarring of the previously necrotic lesions. This case illustrates that, even with extensive necrotic lung changes after petroleum aspiration, conservative treatment is justified and likely to be effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Relation between 67-gallium scintigraphy and bronchoalveolar lavage--differential cell count and superoxide anion liberation--in patients with systemic scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus].

The aim of the study was to determine the pulmonary 67-gallium uptake, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell differentiation and the activity of BAL cells, measured as release of superoxide anion (O2-), and to investigate the results whether there are relations. In 11 nonsmoking systemic scleroderma (SS) patients and 11 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lung involvement double-sided BAL were performed, mainly in regions with increased 67-gallium uptake. Release of O2- was measured by INT-assey. BAL cell differentiation was in SS and SLE pathological in 68.2% without side-difference. In contrast to SS, O2(-)-release in SLE depends on BAL cell differentiation and is most increased in normal BAL cell differentiation. There is no correlation between 67-gallium uptake and both BAL cell differentiation and O2(-)-release. The results suggest, that in contrast to SS, BAL cells in SLE with pathological differentiation are less activated than BAL cells with normal differentiation probable due to autoimmunological factors. Pulmonary 67-gallium scan and BAL seem to be independent from each other.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Bronchoalveolar lavage in systemic scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus--differential cell values and enzyme cytochemistry].

The aim of the study was to determine the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell differentiation and the activity of beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in alveolar macrophages. In 12 patients with systemic sclerosis (SS), 4 with systemic lupus erythematosus and 4 healthy controls BAL was performed. The activity of beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was measured semiquantitative by means of cytochemical methods. Lymphocytes and neutrophils in BAL cell differentiation are increased, also the activity of beta-glucuronidase. The activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase is decreased in SS and SLE in comparison with controls. The activity of beta-glucuronidase seems to be a marker of activity of alveolar macrophages in SS and SLE.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1991

[Bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with systemic scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus: characterization of cell activity by cytofluorometry, chemiluminescence and differential cell count].

The purpose of the study was to determine the role of lymphocyte subsets (Ly) and reactive oxygen metabolites RSM, concerning the activity of BAL cells, in the pathogenesis of lung involvement in 12 patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) and 4 with systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE) in comparison with 10 control subjects. The cellular activity was measured by means of cytofluorometry (CFM) and chemiluminescence (CL). In SS/SLEY CD3+, CD4+, CD4/CD8-ratio, CD25 + T-Ly and luminol-dependent CL are increased (p less than 0.05). Correlations exist between CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD25 + T-Ly and both luminol-dependent CL and neutrophils (p less than 0.01). The results suggest, that increased secretion of RSM by BAL-cells may be caused by local release of lymphokines by these activated T-Ly. Therefore CFM and CL seem to be useful in addition to BAL cell differentiation in characterizing the BAL cell activity in the diagnostic of lung involvement in SS and SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Chemiluminescence measurements of bronchoalveolar lavage cells in patients with collagenosis].

The purpose of the study was to determine the role of reactive oxygen metabolites in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung involvement in 13 patients with collagen vascular diseases (CVD) in comparison with 10 control subjects. The cellular activity of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells was measured by means of chemiluminescence (CL), spontaneously and after challenge of the cells with opsonized zymosan (simultaneously luminol- and lucigenin-dependent). The findings show an increase of the spontaneous and stimulated CL of BAL cells in CVD, more pronounced in luminol-dependent CL. The luminol-dependent CL correlates with neutrophils in BAL cell differentiation. The results suggest that reactive oxygen metabolites take part in interstitial lung involvement in patients with CVD. Therefore the measurement CL of BAL cells is useful in addition to BAL cell differentiation in diagnostic of interstitial lung involvement in CVD.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Biliary, fecal and urinary excretion of [3H]-prostaglandins in the rat.

The profiles of biliary, fecal and urinary excretion of tritium labeled prostaglandins (PG's) of differing biological activity were investigated in the rat. The PG's (10 micrograms/kg: 2 to 50 microCi/rat, in 1 ml polyethylene glycol-400) were administered intragastrically. Excretion data were expressed as a percentage of the total administered radioactivity. For the orally administered PG's 11R-methyl-16R-fluoro-15R-hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-ci s-5-trans-13-dienoic acid and its methyl ester, excretion was equally divided between urine and feces. The fecal and urinary profile of excretion of 3H after prostacyclin (PGI2) was similar to that following administration of 11R, 16, 16-trimethyl-15R-hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-cis-5-trans-13-dienoic acid (trimoprostil), a PG with antisecretory-antiulcer potential. However, PGI2 was very poorly absorbed from the intestine, while the absorption of trimoprostil was very efficient. Biliary excretion, with little entero-porto-hepatic biliary circulation, was the main route of elimination of trimoprostil, thereby resulting in rapid elimination of drug-related products and diminishing the potential for systemic liability in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A computerized system for measuring detection sensitivity over the visual field.

A device is described for comprehensively measuring the capability of human operators to detect and react to visual signals occurring at a variety of locations throughout the functional visual field. The system is completely automated and computerized, and provides both documentation files and descriptive graphics of the operator's performance immediately upon completion of testing. Sensitivity of detection can be measured for red, yellow, and green stimulus colors in a testing configuration which mimics commonplace surveillance of the ordinary viewing field. An abbreviated listing of the main operating program software is provided.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed1987

An automated portable night vision testing system.

This report describes a new testing system designed to assess night vision parameters of the military population in the field, and to quantify the effects of various environmental stress factors, such as extended exposure to high altitude, on the dark adaptation process. The instrument is based on an established procedure for dark adaptation measurement in which the subject continuously adjusts the threshold luminance of a recurrently flashing stimulus. The device described here represents a modernized version of the original technique, which features an automated testing procedure and provides for computerized data translation of the dark adaptation function. It also offers the advantages of rugged construction and field portability not available in clinical style instruments.

Computers↗
PubMed1986

Positive allergy prick tests associated with bronchial histamine responsiveness in an unselected population.

Bronchial responsiveness to histamine and skin prick test reactions to airborne allergens were measured in a random population sample of 891 adults and 1293 schoolchildren. Total serum IgE concentrations were measured in a subset of 389 adults. The prevalence of bronchial histamine responsiveness (BHR) in the adults increased from 5.8% in those who did not respond to allergen prick tests to 22.2% in those who responded to all five allergen groups (p less than 0.00001). Similarly, the prevalence of BHR in the children increased progressively from 3.5% to 35.3% as the number of positive allergen responses increased from zero through five (p less than 0.0001). In adults for whom IgE data were also available, those with BHR had a significantly higher total serum IgE concentration (p less than 0.002).

Adult↗