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Biomedical subjects

E Braun

Publications and source records attributed to E Braun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Bcy1, the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in yeast, is differentially modified in response to the physiological status of the cell.

The regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in yeast, encoded by the BCY1 gene, is known to be required under certain conditions such as growth on nonfermentable carbon sources and entry into stationary phase. We have identified novel isoforms of Bcy1 in cells under these conditions. The isoforms are distinguishable by their migration on one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and 2-dimensional nonequilibrium pH gradient gel electrophoresis. The isoforms observed by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE bind cAMP, as determined by [32P]8-azido-cAMP labeling (diagnostic of Bcy1 protein). Proteins isolated from cells grown to stationary phase in rich medium exhibit five antibody-reactive bands, by one-dimensional SDS-PAGE immunoblot analysis, with apparent molecular masses of 50, 52, 55, 59 and 61 kDa. Total Bcy1 protein increases at least 8-fold between exponential and stationary phase. Analysis of proteins from a variety of yeast mutants indicated that 1) many of the observed modifications of Bcy1 are dependent upon the presence of the Ser-145 phosphorylation site; 2) the appearance of the 59- and 61-kDa bands is dependent upon the presence of Yak1 kinase; and 3) Bcy1 protein is modified even in the absence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunits. Cells carrying the bcy1(ala145) allele exhibit non-wild type growth, indicating that these modifications may be functionally significant.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1991

Improving CD4+ lymphocyte counts in HIV-infected hemophilia patients. A favorable prognostic indicator?

CD4+ lymphocyte counts of 91 HIV+ hemophilia patients were monitored for a mean of 4 years (range: 15-69 months). CD4+ lymphocytes decreased in 55 but increased in 36 patients over time. The CD4+ cell increases were persistent in 5 patients, whereas they fluctuated in 31. Of the 36 patients with increasing CD4+ counts 3 developed AIDS and 1 LAS. The other 32 patients were clinically asymptomatic (CDC II), but had immunological abnormalities, such as increased serum neopterin (N = 18) and impaired in vitro T cell responses to pooled allogenic stimulator cells (N = 15) or mitogens (N = 18). In contrast, of the 55 patients whose CD4+ cells decreased, 24 developed AIDS and 5 ARC (P less than 0.0005). Only 2 of these 55 patients had normal mitogen stimulation in vitro and normal serum neopterin levels.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Solitary blood cultures as a quality assurance indicator.

For patients with suspected bacteremia, at least two separate blood cultures are recommended to achieve maximum sensitivity and to properly interpret results. Since a single blood collection may signify an improper procedure with serious consequences if the diagnosis of blood stream infection is missed, we investigated this problem with studies at three teaching hospitals (A, B, and C) and by a survey of 38 other hospitals. The incidence of solitary blood cultures ranged from 1 to 99% (median 26%) at the surveyed institutions. Among the cases investigated at hospitals B and C, between 10 and 30% of solitary blood cultures were not clinically indicated, while most of the others were caused by the physician not knowing that one culture was insufficient or by failure to complete the diagnostic plan. Focused concurrent intervention at hospital B was associated with reductions in solitary blood cultures from 40.0 to 24.6% (p = 0.045) and a decline in those not indicated from 38.1 to 12.5% (p = 0.192). Global educational efforts at hospital A were associated with a decrease in solitary blood culture rates from 52 to 37% (p = 0.016). These results show that blood culture practice varies widely among institutions in spite of consensus recommendations for proper specimen collections. We estimate that, nationwide, up to 18,000 etiologic diagnoses of bacteremia are missed annually because of this problem. Monitoring institutional solitary blood cultures is recommended as a test utilization indicator and as the basis for improving blood culture practice.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1991

[Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (Bland-White-Garland syndrome) in a 29-year-old male with absolute tachyarrhythmia].

We report on a man without any symptoms until the age of 29 years when a ventricular tachyarrhythmia occurred for the first time. There were electrocardiographic signs of a previous myocardial infarction of the anterior wall, but there had not even been any episode of angina pectoris. The cause was the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk (Bland-White-Garland syndrome). Therapy consisted of ligation of the left coronary artery and the implantation of an aortocoronary vein graft to the left coronary artery in order to reinstall a two-coronary system. Diagnosis is easily made by coronary angiography. At a 3-year follow-up there was an increase of the ejection fraction/cardiac output, a stable sinus rhythm, and an improved physical endurance.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Choledochal cyst. The clinical picture, diagnosis and therapy].

A 21-year-old woman who for more than one year had had epigastric pain which was unrelated to food and radiated belt-like, was found to have a marked increase in gamma-GT, slightly elevated phosphatase activity, and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The diagnosis of choledochal cyst, type Ia, was confirmed by sonography, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and intravenous cholangiography. A choledochocystojejunostomy with a Y-Roux anastomosis was constructed to stop the cholestasis and prevent complications. The patient became symptom-free after the operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Toxicological interactions between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

Fischer 344 male rats were subjected to 30-min individual or combined exposures of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). All deaths from CO occurred during the exposures, and the LC50 values were 4600 and 5000 ppm, depending on experimental conditions. Animals exposed to CO2 concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 14.7% for 30 min were neither incapacitated nor fatally injured. The addition of nonlethal concentrations of CO2 (1.7 to 17.3%) to sublethal concentrations of CO (2500 to 4000 ppm) caused deaths of the exposed rats both during and following (up to 24 h) the 30-min exposures. The most toxic combination of these two gases (2500 ppm CO plus 5% CO2) increased the rate of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) formation 1.5 times that found in rats exposed to 2500 ppm of CO alone. The COHb equilibrium levels were the same. Exposure to both CO and CO2 produced a greater degree of acidosis and a longer recovery time than that observed with either single gas. The results fit a mathematical model indicating a synergistic interaction. Combustion of 11 materials at their LC50 values indicated that CO was probably the primary toxicant in one case and that the combined CO plus CO2 was the cause of the deaths in three other cases. Additional fire gases need to be studied to explain deaths from the other materials.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Unapparent course of pancreatitis with pseudocyst development and cholestatic jaundice in anticonvulsive therapy with valproate].

Valproic acid is a reliable and comparatively safe drug in the treatment of special forms of absence seizures. Severe but very rare complications include acute liver necrosis and acute pancreatitis which may end lethally. A case of a previously unreported association of pancreatic pseudocyst and development of cholestatic icterus in conjunction with valproic acid therapy is presented. The clinical signs of icterus and chronic pancreatic failure disappeared when we terminated the therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Technical development and radiological surveillance of the Schmitt minimadreporic uncemented total hip prosthesis. Evaluation of 275 arthroplasties with a follow-up of more than 6 years for the oldest cases].

The authors describe a porous-coated uncemented total hip prosthesis which has been used for more than six years: the Schmitt minimadreporic prosthesis. A homogenous series of 275 arthroplasties has been reviewed with a mean follow-up of three years and five months. The method of radiological assessment of the position of the femoral and acetabular components and their possible loosening is described in detail. Infection (0.72%) and aseptic loosening (1.8%) specific to this type of prosthesis was rare. For the series as a whole there were 92% of good, very good and excellent results and for 81 arthroplasties with a follow-up greater than four years the figure was 90%. The frequency of secondary displacement of the femoral component is emphasised, with 15 prostheses sinking downwards and 96 displacing into varus. Statistical analysis has shown the principal factors affecting the clinical result and has demonstrated the effect of resorption of the calcar in causing downward displacement of the femoral stem and insufficient filling of the medullary cavity on the development of varus angulation of the prosthesis.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1986

[Urinary concentration of cobalt and chromium in patients with a non-cemented total hip prosthesis].

The concentrations of cobalt and chromium have been measured in the urine of 22 patients who had received uncemented hip prostheses made from cobalt, chromium and molybdenum alloy, and in 21 patients who had not received prostheses, using absorption spectrophotometry. The results were statistically analysed using the Wilcoxon test. The levels of cobalt in the urine in the patients with uncemented prostheses did not show a significant increase, indicating that there is no greater risk of cobalt toxicity. The concentration of chromium was significantly raised (p less than 10(-2) in the urine of patients with uncemented prostheses, and in three of these patients significant corrosion had occurred.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Emergency surgery in colonic obstructions. Retrospective study of 70 cases].

70 patients with complete colonic obstruction requiring emergency surgery were treated at the "Clinique Chirurgicale C" between 1977 and 1984. Carcinoma was the cause of obstruction in 65 cases. Obstruction was situated on the right colon 8 times, on the splenic flexure 13 times, and on the left colon 49 times. In emergency obstruction of the right colon was treated by right hemicolectomy in 6 cases with 0 death. Obstruction of the splenic flexure was treated in 10 cases by simple loop colostomy, twice by resection with ileo-sigmoid anastomosis, 1 by resection without anastomosis with 5 deaths. Obstruction of the left colon was treated by simple loop colostomy in 46 cases. Of the 34 patients who survived after loop colostomy, 26 were reoperated and in 23 cases a resection could be performed with 2 deaths and the colostomy could be closed in a third stage in 20 cases without death. 5 years survival of curative resection was 57%. It is concluded that primary resection is the best treatment for obstruction of the right colon and of the splenic flexure. But three stage resection seems to be a good procedure for obstruction of the left colon with low mortality, low morbidity and good 5 year survival.

Adult↗