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Biomedical subjects

E Walther

Publications and source records attributed to E Walther.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia or Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

In the present study we assessed the prevalence and nature of hearing loss in patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) or Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) due to single large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion or mtDNA tRNA (Leu (UUR)) A3243G point mutation (A3243G PM). 14 patients with mtDNA deletion and three patients with A3243G PM underwent audiological evaluation comprising pure-tone and speech audiometry as well as transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Audiological evaluation revealed hearing impairment in 10/17 patients. Hearing loss was mild to moderate predominantly affecting high frequencies in five patients with subjective hearing problems (three patients with mtDNA deletions, two patients with A3243G PM). Subclinical hearing deficits restricted to high frequencies were seen in further five asymptomatic patients (four patients with mtDNA deletions, one patients with A3243G PM). Audiological findings suggested a cochlear origin of hearing loss in all subjects. Our results demonstrate that CPEO or KSS patients due to mtDNA deletion or A3243G PM are at high risk of developing sensorineural hearing deficits.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cricopharyngeal achalasia is a common cause of dysphagia in patients with mtDNA deletions.

To assess dysphagia, the authors examined 12 patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) or chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) due to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion by videofluoroscopy and manometry. Cricopharyngeal achalasia was documented in nine of 12 patients (75%), whereas deglutitive coordination problems were found in one patient. Cricopharyngeal myotomy may be an effective treatment in selected cases with severe cricopharyngeal obstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Automatic social behavior: how does activation of the concepts of egoism and altruism influence helping behavior?].

An experimental study investigated the influence of priming on helping behavior. A scrambled sentence test was used to prime groups with the concepts of altruism or egoism. In a third group a neutral concept was activated. The results indicated that there is no difference in helping behavior between the altruism and the neutral group. However, in the egoism priming condition participants showed higher latencies and helped less often than participants in both other conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Serial gadolinium-DTPA of spinal cord MRI in multiple sclerosis: triple vs. single dose.

We compared the sensitivity of single and triple dose Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting enhancing lesions in the spinal cord (SC) from 15 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The patients were examined monthly on four occasions. We detected two enhancing lesions in two of 15 (13%) patients when a single dose of Gd-DTPA was used. No additional lesions were detected when a triple dose of Gd-DTPA was used. These results 1) confirm that enhanced spinal cord imaging does not significantly increase the detection of active lesions in MS, 2) they do not support the general application of triple dose Gd-DTPA when examining the SC but 3) suggest that further studies taking into account SC symptoms are necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Recognize the victim in need: the effect of situational cues and priming on identification of need for help].

An experimental study investigated the joint influence of priming and situational cues on the perceived neediness of a target. A scrambled sentence test was used to prime two groups with the concepts of neediness and safety. In a third group a neutral concept was activated. A free description of the target and a subsequent adjective rating were applied as dependent measures. Although results indicated that both factors affected the attribution of neediness on a free description, the effects of priming were only apparent on this measurement and disappeared on the second task.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Triple dose of gadolinium-DTPA increases the sensitivity of spinal cord MRI in detecting enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis.

We compared the sensitivity of single and triple dose Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting enhancing lesions in the spinal cord of 13 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We detected two enhancing lesions in two of 13 (15%) patients when the single dose of Gd-DTPA was used and 12 lesions in five of 13 (38%) patients when the triple dose of Gd-DTPA was used. These results suggest that: (1) the use of triple dose increases the sensitivity of spinal cord MRI when studying relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS patients, (2) triple dose Gd-DTPA enhanced of the spinal cord MRI might be useful in monitoring disease activity in patients with MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Functional cooperation and stoichiometry of protein translocases of the outer and inner membranes of mitochondria.

The qualitative relationship between preprotein translocases in the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes was determined by both a functional analysis and a determination of characteristic components of the translocases. Translocation contact sites of isolated mitochondria were saturated with intermediates of a matrix-targeted precursor of the beta-subunit of the F1-ATPase (pF1beta), and import of preproteins into the different mitochondrial subcompartments was monitored. A strong inhibition (75-95%) was observed for preproteins with an N-terminal matrix targeting signal, indicating that a significant portion of the contact sites was blocked by accumulated F1beta. Insertion of preproteins into the outer membrane and import into the intermembrane space of preproteins without matrix targeting signals was inhibited by about 45%, indicating that functional outer membrane translocases were available despite saturation of contact sites. Similarly, import of members of the mitochondrial carrier family into the inner membrane was only partly inhibited (40-50%), demonstrating that functional Tim22 translocases were available to cooperate with the Tom machinery in the import of carrier proteins. The stoichiometry of Tom40, Tim23, and Tim22 in mitochondria was determined to be 5:1:0.22. We conclude that translocases of the outer membrane are present in excess over translocases of the inner membrane.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1997

[MRI dacryocystography after applying gadolinium-containing eyedrops].

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of MRI for the lacrimal drainage system after conjunctival application of gadolinium-DTPA solution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MRI dacryocystography of 32 nasolacrimal duct systems was performed in 16 patients additional to digital subtraction dacryocystography. The gadolinium solution was prepared by diluting the commercially available gadolinium-DTPA (Magnevist, Schering AG, Berlin) 1:10 in sterile saline solution. 3 x 2 drops of this contrast medium were instilled bilaterally immediately before MRI scanning. RESULTS: MRI dacryocystography provided detailed information on the nasolacrimal duct system in all 32 cases. In 16 cases localisation and functional degree of nasolacrimal duct obstruction or stenosis was determined reliably. In 15 cases normal nasolacrimal duct system showed no contrast enhancement. In one case stenosis of the canaliculus was observed. CONCLUSION: MRI dacryocystography provides detailed morphological soft tissue information of the lacrimal drainage system. Local conjunctival application of gadolinium solution allows functional tests of the lacrimal duct system in patients suffering from epiphora.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Persisting "writer's cramp" as a result of compensation of a temporary palsy due to a hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies.

A 49-year-old man reported several periods of acute paresis of different nerves after exposure to pressure. All palsies showed a good recovery over a period of days to months. The suspected diagnosis of a hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies was confirmed by the histology of a suralis nerve biopsy, which showed a distinct tomaculous swelling of the myelin. Nine years ago he noticed an acute, distally pronounced palsy of the right arm. A brachial plexus lesion was diagnosed. His profession required written work, thereby forcing him to compensate this weakness by increasing the coactivation of the elbow and upper arm. This coactivation persisted even after complete recovery from the plexus palsy. Thus, the patient showed the typical feature of classical writer's cramp, with broad coactivation of the arm muscles, which has continued to the present. At the same time, however, the patient was able to perform other motoric tasks well, such as painting. After several practice sessions with a special program that makes use of preserved motor abilities to reestablish writing, the patient was again able to write with a normal kinematic profile as documented by the recorded handwriting. This suggests that the "writer's cramp" of our patient is one form of task-related dystonia that may be related more to the perserveration of a misleading motor strategy than to a general inability of the motor system to control the movement properly.

Brachial Plexus↗
PubMed1996

Constructive biases in social judgment: experiments on the self-verification of question contents.

Merely thinking about a proposition can increase its subjective truth, even when it is initially denied. Propositions may trigger inferences that depend not on evidence for truth but only on the semantic match with relevant knowledge. In a series of experiments, participants were presented with questions implying positive or negative judgments of discussants in a videotaped talk show. Subsequent ratings were biased toward the question contents, even when the judges themselves initially denied the questions. However, this constructive bias is subject to epistemic constraints. Judgments were biased only when knowledge about the target's role (active agent vs. passive recipient role) was matched by the semantic-linguistic implications of propositions (including action verbs vs. state verbs).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The School Enrollment-Based Health Insurance program: socioeconomic factors in enrollees' use of health services.

OBJECTIVES: The School Enrollment-Based Health Insurance program is designed to reduce financial barriers to children's health care use. This study sought to determine if any socioeconomic measures differed between enrollees with at least one health care encounter and those with no encounters. METHODS: Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of various predictors on the odds that a child would use health care services. RESULTS: Children receiving free insurance premiums were less likely to use health care than those receiving partial subsidy. African-American and Hispanic children were less likely than Whites to use health care. Age, sex, and months enrolled also influenced the likelihood of health care use. CONCLUSIONS: Financial and non-financial factors must be considered when developing children's health care programs.

Child↗
PubMed1996

[Water-filtered infrared-A-hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy in advanced and recurrent tumors. Initial results of a multicenter phase I-II study].

BACKGROUND: Water-filtered infrared-A-radiation (IR/A-HT) can be used to heat superficial malignant tumors. A prospective multicenter phase I-II study was conducted to evaluate toxicity and efficacy of IR/A-HT combined with external beam radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: From December 1991 to June 1994, a total of 53 patients with 58 malignant lesions were entered in the study. There were 14 primary, 36 recurrent and 8 metastatic tumors which were located in the head and neck region (14), chest wall (31), abdominal wall (2) and the extremities (11). The mean tumor volume was 100 cm3. IR/A-HT was applied 1 to 2 times per week with up to 3 IR/A-HT-radiators directly before or after external RT for 1 hour at 40.5 to 44 degrees C. Temperatures were controlled at various locations at the skin surface and invasively at depth. RESULTS: IR/A-HT was well tolerated: in 31 (53%) lesions acute (pain, pulse or blood pressure changes, increased skin reaction etc.) and in 25 (43%) chronic side-effects (atrophy, telangiectasis, fibrosis etc.) were noted; usually the toxicity was minor and temporary. At 3 months FU, 32 (55%) lesions achieved a local CR and 19 (35%) a PR; at 12 months FU, 25 (43%) had persistent CR; 16 patients (18 lesions) were deceased and 3 (4 lesions) not yet in FU. In univariate analysis the following prognostic factors for CR at 3 or 12 months FU were found: Karnofsky, metastatic status, tumor size, total RT-dose, thermal parameters T min(av) and T mean. For acute toxicity maximum temperature Tmax(av) was prognostically decisive. Significant differences were also found when considering the "quality of the HT-application". The microwave technique was superior to the infrared-A-HT-technique with regard to the penetration depth of energy deposition. CONCLUSIONS: Water-filtered infrared-A-radiation can be safely and effectively applied to heat localized superficial tumors (up to 1 cm depth). To increase the area of HT application multiple infrared-A-radiators have to be combined. A multi-element-system is in progress.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1992

[Diagnostic problems in local recurrence after breast saving treatment].

353 patients with stages pTis, pT1-2, pN0-1, cM0 breast cancer have been treated consecutively by breast conserving therapy in a prospective, nonrandomized study at the University Hospital Basel and the Women's Clinic Rheinfelden/Baden/Germany. The median age was 47 years, the median follow-up time 67 months, and 4% only of this collective were lost to follow-up after a median time of 42 months. In 79% of the cases the tumor was excised totally, while in 19% the resection margins were positive and in 2% only the margins were not available for histological judgement. The rate of local failure reached 8% with a median time interval of 53 months. 116 patients showed postactinic induration in the primary tumor region. 73 of these were given additional diagnostic examination: The postactinic induration was judget clinically suspicious in 51 cases and clinically nonsuspicious of local failure in 22 cases. All 73 patients received additional examination by mammography and biopsy. By comparison with the histological results the clinical results were correct in 59% and false in 41%, while the mammographic results were correct in 82% and false in 18% of the cases.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1991

[Health status and late complications following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. A review].

Better results following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have increased the number of patients in longterm follow-up. Health status and late effects are therefore of increasing interest. We discuss here the incidence and follow-up of late complications after allogenic BMT. Any conditioning regimen including TBI in postpubertal women introduces a postmenopausal status. In contrast, normal function is found after BMT without irradiation. In men, there is usually permanent azoospermia after TBI but not following chemotherapy alone. Thyroid dysfunction after BMT with TBI has been reported in about 40% of patients. In most of them compensated hypothyroidism with elevated TSH is found. BMT with TBI induces growth retardation in children. Decreased growth hormone levels are observed and substitution can induce normal height development. Interstitial pneumonitis (IP) is a major cause of death. It occurs on average three months after BMT but late onset IP's are increasingly reported. Cataracts are common after BMT. The risk of cataracts in patients given single dose TBI attains 80-100% after four years. Under treatment with cyclophosphamide alone, the risk of lens opacification is less than 20%. So far, patients treated with fractionated TBI have not developed more cataracts than those treated with chemotherapy alone. Impaired renal function is common early post-transplant. Risk factors include cyclosporine (CSA) nephrotoxic antibiotics and antifungal drugs. So far, few secondary malignancies have been reported in humans after BMT. However, actual observation time is still too short for final evaluation. Prevention or treatment is instituted for common complications. It is expected that other types of tissue damage will be recognized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Clinical value of a mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen in monitoring breast cancer patients in comparison with CA 15-3.

A new tumour marker, mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA), was evaluated in 176 breast cancer patients classified either as free of tumour (NED, n = 141) or as having metastases (PD, n = 35). During the 5 year follow-up, 842 measurements of MCA and 363 measurements of CA 15-3 were done. MCA levels were significantly increased in the PD group (P = 0.0001) but not in the NED group. The sensitivities of the MCA and the CA 15-3 assays were 84% and 78% and the specificities were 81% and 78%, respectively. The negative predictive value of 97% for MCA was significantly higher (P = 0.0001) than the 88% for CA 15-3. Thus the MCA enzyme immunoassay is at least equivalent to the CA 15-3 test and is recommended in the assessment of metastatic spread or tumour recurrence in breast cancer patients.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗