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Biomedical subjects

E Ehler

Publications and source records attributed to E Ehler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phase I trial of a 5-day course of carbetimer.

Carbetimer (carboxyimamidate) is a low molecular weight derivative of ethylene/maleic anhydride polymer. This compound has demonstrated antitumor activity against several animal models with a daily x 5 schedule appearing most effective. A phase I clinical study of the daily x 5 schedule repeated every 28 days was therefore performed. Forty-one evaluable patients received 66 evaluable cycles of Carbetimer at daily doses ranging from 100-11,000 mg/m2. Hypercalcemia was the dose limiting toxicity with both patients at the 11,000 mg/m2 daily dose level and one patient who received 6 cycles of drug at the 4200 mg/m2 dose level developing severe hypercalcemia not explained by the underlying malignancy. Mild nausea, concentration and rate dependent arm pain at the site of infusion, proteinuria, and coagulopathy were also seen. Calcium balance studies revealed hypercalciuria, suggesting increased mobilization of calcium rather than renal retention. In vitro coagulation studies revealed concentration dependent prolongation of the partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time. No complete or partial responses were seen. However mixed response or biochemical response (reduction in serum lactic dehydrogenase) were seen in 5 patients with melanoma or renal cancer. Due to unacceptable toxicity at the 11,000 mg/m2 daily dose level, Carbetimer 8500 mg/m2 is the recommended dose for a 5-day treatment schedule every 28 days. Special attention should be directed toward possible activity against melanoma and renal cancer.

Adult

[Personal experience with strain-induced diseases--neurologic aspects].

The author summarizes his experience with diseases of the locomotor system of the extremities caused by long-term, excessive unilateral overload (item 29 of the Czechoslovak "List of occupational diseases") assembled during the period 1976 to 1987. In the department for occupational diseases of the District Institute of National Health Pardubice 349 subjects were examined where the disease was suspected, in 93 workers the occupational affection was notified. From a total of 2,294 notified occupational during the above period disease due to overload accounted for 4.1%. The cause of the affection was most frequently bursitis (32x), epicondylitis (25x) and carpal tunnel syndromes (24x), other affections being less frequent. The author analyzed the results with regard to sex, age, period of exposure, occupation. Special attention was devoted to glass workers who accounted for 51.6% of all affected subjects. The author discusses possible neurological affections, i. e. damage of the peripheral nerves. In the assessment of disease caused by overload the authors emphasized the importance of close cooperation of specialists for occupational diseases, neurologists, orthopaedists, physiologists and specialists in hygiene of work.

Adult

[Health status of workers exposed to styrene used in the manufacture of glass laminates].

A group of 37 workers exposed to styrene used in the plastic mass manufacture was investigated. No damage of the hepatic parenchyma, hematopoiesis or other internal affection was proved; irritative styrene effects were, however, observed, skin was attacked and higher genetic risk was evidenced. From the viewpoint of neurotoxicology, pseudoneurasthenic syndromes, predominantly inhibitory, could be seen, which was proved also by electroencephalography; higher incidence of lesion findings was also found in the risk group. Slight neuropathies of distal type, sensitive-motor, not dependent on the length of exposure were found by electromyography. Abnormalities in electrophysiological examinations appear earlier. The results obtained are significant for further preventive follow-up of persons under exposure.

Adult

[Treatment of diabetic neuropathy].

The author presents in his review information on contemporary possibilities in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. This treatment is focused on strict compensation of diabetes, on support of the metabolism in the peripheral nerves and on symptomatic relief of the patient's complaints. Treatment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy which is so far only symptomatic, still remains a problem.

Diabetic Neuropathies

[Proximal diabetic neuropathy--basic clinical aspects].

Twenty-five patients with symptoms of proximal diabetic neuropathy were examined and treated according to a simple pattern. Among anamnestic data myalgia proved most important (100%), as well as its character and localization. Important symptoms include: the presence of type II diabetes (72%) or recent diabetes (28%), loss of body weight (64%), weakness of the lower extremities and psychic changes (68%). In the clinical picture pareses in the femoral area and buttocks with increasing atrophy of these muscles (100%) are in the foreground. Muscular pain on pressure and changes of reflexes L2-L4 (80%) are typical. As to auxiliary examinations, a decisive role is played by EMG examination which proves the presence of proximal neuropathy. Other auxiliary examinations do not confirm findings which are essential for the establishment of the diagnosis of proximal diabetic neuropathy and serve differential diagnostic purposes.

Adult

[The significance of an electromyographic study of the femoral nerve in diabetics].

The author examined groups of 25 diabetics with proximal diabetic neuropathy, 25 with distal diabetic neuropathy and a control group of 25 healthy subjects. Lesions of the femoral nerve in patients with proximal diabetic neuropathy are characterized by the presence of denervation potentials (80%) and changes of action potentials in the m. quadriceps femoris, a change in the shape of the M-response (only 12% within the normal range) and a reduction of the terminal conduction rate of the femoral nerve (34 +/- 12.3 m/s). In the discussion the author draws attention to technical and anatomical problems of the examination of the femoral nerve and to the interpretation of results with regard to the pathogenesis and clinical aspects. The recommended method of EMG examination of the femoral nerve is technically easy even for EMG laboratories which possess only simple equipment.

Adult

Oral metoclopramide with or without diphenhydramine: potential for prevention of late nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin.

Late nausea and vomiting lasting 2-7 days occurs in 20%-68% of patients receiving cisplatin. We therefore studied the effects of oral metoclopramide given at doses of 20, 50, or 100 mg four times a day for 25 doses (7 days) beginning after cisplatin to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for prophylactic oral antiemetic regimens. Patients were stratified into younger (less than or equal to 30 yr old) and older (greater than 30 yr old) groups. Dose escalation was performed without or with concomitant oral diphenhydramine. For the younger group, the MTD for metoclopramide without diphenhydramine was less than 20 mg, and the MTD with diphenhydramine was 20 mg. For the older group, the MTD without diphenhydramine was 20 mg, and the MTD with diphenhydramine was 50 mg. Extrapyramidal reactions in the younger group and agitated depression in the older group were the major dose-terminating toxic effects. Patient acceptance of these regimens was excellent.

Adolescent

[Regional differences in the chemical composition of the human tibia].

The chemical homogeneity in all parts of the bone compacta was investigated in 2 human tibiae taken from male cadavers. The ash and nitrogen contents were used as parameters of the chemical homogeneity. Analyses for calcium and phosphorus were performed in addition to characterize the ash content. The mineral components reached their highest levels in the middle of the diaphysis, but the ash contents decline in the directions towards the epiphysis. The distributions of the values for the organic compounds (nitrogen) show a converse pattern. The nitrogen content was highest especially at points where tendons are anchored in the compacta. The ash or mineral content is approximately proportional to the density of the dry bone substance. The chemical composition of the bone compacta can therefore be used to draw conclusions regarding zones that are subject to different functional loads.

Adult

[Experimental studies on the development of human skull fractures].

Pressure tests were performed on certain well-defined points in the median-sagittal plane of soft part covered skulls of 40 human corpses. It was found that the elastic behaviour of the skull obeys Hooke's law, thus the modulus of elasticity is the Ist differential quotient in the stress-strain diagram. Beside the vectorial nature of the compression force the point of application is also of decisive importance. The globe-ellipsoid theories do not correspond to the structure of human skulls. Autopsy revealed over 50% more confirmed fractures than the X-ray pictures. This contradiction in the diagnosis of fractures on the human skull can be reduced by series of X-ray pictures. The lines of the fractures run to the most part along the Benninghoff--Goerttler pillars of strength. Additional biostatic parameters (maximum load before breaking, coefficient of elasticity, stress, elongation etc.) were also obtained which permit an insight into the specific mechanic structure of the human skull and its load-bearing ability.

Biomechanical Phenomena

[Compression tests on the human hip joint (author's transl)].

Three human pelvises were subjected to static loading in the course of the experiments. The values determined for the elasticity modules lie between 2 and 4.5 kp/min2. The values range between 5 and 14 kp/mm2 if only the compacta is considered. The experiments show that the elasticity modules obtained at cross sections through the Os coxae are higher than those for sections through the hip joint and its immediate surroundings. Here the elasticity module reaches the minimum value of 0.77 kp/cm2 (Fig. 1, cross section No.2, Table 3). The highest breaking strain was 1045 kp (Pelvis II). The longitudinal contraction of the three pelvis was 26.6 mm on average. For the mean height of 27.2 cm for the specimens used, this means that the pelvis, as a system (with hip joint) can be reduced in length by about 10% before a fracture occurs under static load conditions.

Biomechanical Phenomena

[Compressive loads on the human knee joint (author's transl)].

A total of five human knee joints fixed in formalin were available from the 1975/76 dissection course at the Anatomical Institute in Rostock. The different joints where loaded while bent at rightangles (Fig. 1). The maximum load varied between 280 and 400 kp. The length reductions at the compression fracture load were between 5.3 and 10.5 mm. The curves shown beyond the fracture region in Fig. 2 result from the reconsolidation of the fractured bone as an additional elastic region. Bone is generally regarded as a completely elastic material. The load range prior to fracture can probably be considered as elastic in the sense defined by Hooke's law; the curves are correspondingly approximately linear. This also applies to our knee joints, which require a system approach.

Biomechanical Phenomena

[The mechanisms of fracture in the human skull under static loads while still covered by tissue (author's transl)].

Static compression tests were undertaken on 40 human skulls while still covered by tissue. The compression tests were performed on the median sagittal part of the calotte. It was found that the skull, like the tubular bones, is fully elastic. Dissection revealed considerably more fractures, particularly in the basal region, than were shown on x-ray pictures (50%). With regard to the mechanisms of fracture, Fig. 2 shows that fractures occur only while the last third of the load is being applied. The following parameters were determined: maximum stress upon fracture, strain, elongation, elasticity module and elasticity coefficient.

Biomechanical Phenomena

[Contribution to three-dimensional consideration of surfaces of joints of condyli femoris (author's transl)].

There were laid sections in a difference of 1 cm across the condyli femoris of 5 human formalin-fixed femora and was looked for the curvature of the areas of joints at their marks. In comparing with literature was to be seen that corresponding dats failed at the orientation of the bone. Model conceptions used in case of compensation can't be accepted. Exact calculations of the three-dimensional curvature of surface are presumed for taking into account the mechanism of transfer of forces in the knee joint.

Aged

[Experimental studies on the compression resistance of the head with special reference to the mechanism of fractures in traffic accidents].

Compressional resistance of the head and its role in the mechanism of fractures in traffic accidents were studied in five formalin-fixed heads. Before and after the experiment X-ray examination was carried out. Because of the variability of fractures coming into being, it was difficult to distinguish definite types. Nevertheless, experimentally produced fractures appeared to be nearly the same, as those seen in clinical practice.

Accidents, Traffic