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Biomedical subjects

F Conrad

Publications and source records attributed to F Conrad.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Clinical evaluation of the peak inspiratory flow generated by asthmatic children through the Novolizer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess whether asthmatic children may generate sufficient peak inspiratory flow through the Novolizer, a novel multiple dose dry powder inhaler with acoustic and optical feedback mechanisms for correct inhalation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 137 children (median age 7 years, range 4-2) with mild to moderate persistent asthma (FEV1 < 90% predicted or pre-treated with low-dose steroids) participated in this open, multi-centre study. After assessment of FEV1 and peak inspiratory flow (without inhalator device, PIF), the children were instructed to inhale with the Novolizer (PIF through inhaler, PIF-N). All assessments were done in triplicate and the mean out of three attempts analysed. RESULTS: Mean PIF was 128 +/- 61 l/min and mean PIF-N was 69 +/- 18 l/min. This is distinctly above the rate necessary to overcome the Novolizer's trigger threshold. PIF performance through the Novolizer was linear in the age interval of 4-8 years, no further increase was observed beyond 8 years. CONCLUSIONS: The medium to low intrinsic resistance of the Novolizer permits a relatively high PIF through this device. Together with the feedback mechanisms, this makes the Novolizer particularly valuable for inhalation therapy in asthmatic children with drugs such as salbutamol, formoterol, or budesonide.

Asthma↗
PubMed2004

[Transperineal sonography in anorectal disorders].

AIM: Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, endorectal and endoanal sonography are used for imaging of inflammatory and neoplastic conditions of the lower rectum, the anus and the perineum. These methods, however, have their limitations regarding accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and availability in the acute setting. Pain may be a limiting factor when introducing a probe into the anus. Percutaneous transperineal sonography is an acknowledged method for diagnosing anorectal malformations in children and infants and for diagnosis of prostatic disease. Until today, only limited reports regarding the value of transperineal sonography for evaluation of diseases of the lower rectum, the anus and the perianal region in adults are available. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2000 a total of 44 patients underwent transperineal sonography including B-mode and colour Doppler sonography for imaging anorectal structures using 3.5 MHz sector arrays and 7 MHz linear arrays. The lesions were also investigated using colour Doppler imaging. During examination the patient is positioned on his side. Orientation landmarks are the pubic symphysis and the prostate gland in men and the vagina in women. RESULTS: The spectrum of diseases of the current study population (44) included perianal fistulas (10), pararectal abscesses (7), fistulas with abscess (7), perianal inflammation without abscess (1), rectal (6) and anal carcinomas (3) and metastasis of a leiomyosarcoma (1). In 10 cases digital examination of the anus and rectum was not possible because of intense pain. In 34 patients (85 %) sonographic findings were confirmed by intraoperative diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Transperineal sonography proved to be an inexpensive, easily available diagnostic tool that may help in detecting a variety of pathological conditions of the lower rectum, the anus, and the perianal region.

Abdominal Abscess↗
PubMed1998

Endosonographic image of a retrorectal bowel duplication: report of a case.

PURPOSE: Endosonographic image and surgical therapy of a retrorectal bowel duplication are described. METHODS, RESULTS, AND CONCLUSIONS: Compared with standard investigations, the most accurate information about a retrorectal mass in a 35-year-old woman could be obtained by means of endorectal ultrasound. Guided by endorectal ultrasound, the mass was excised using a transanal-transrectal approach, and Kraske's operation could be avoided. Additionally, histopathologic analysis of this rare disease is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of treatment with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid on cardiac autonomic neuropathy in NIDDM patients. A 4-month randomized controlled multicenter trial (DEKAN Study). Deutsche Kardiale Autonome Neuropathie.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral treatment with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in NIDDM patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), assessed by heart rate variability (HRV). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter trial (Deutsche Kardiale Autonome Neuropathie [DEKAN] Study), NIDDM patients with reduced HRV were randomly assigned to treatment with daily oral dose of 800 mg ALA (n = 39) or placebo (n = 34) for 4 months. Parameters of HRV at rest included the coefficient of variation (CV), root mean square successive difference (RMSSD), and spectral power in the low-frequency (LF; 0.05-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF; 0.15-0.5 Hz) bands. In addition, cardiovascular autonomic symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: Seventeen patients dropped out of the study (ALA n = 10; placebo n = 7). Mean blood pressure and HbA1 levels did not differ between the groups at baseline and during the study, but heart rate at baseline was higher in the group treated with ALA (P < 0.05). RMSSD increased from baseline to 4 months by 1.5 ms (-37.6 to 77.1) [median (minimum-maximum)] in the group given ALA and decreased by -0.1 ms (-19.2 to 32.8) in the placebo group (P < 0.05 for ALA vs. placebo). Power spectrum in the LF band increased by 0.06 bpm2 (-0. 09 to 0.62) in ALA, whereas it declined by -0.01 bpm2 (-0.48 to 1.86) in placebo (P < 0.05 for ALA vs. placebo). Furthermore, there was a trend toward a favorable effect of ALA versus placebo for the CV and HF band power spectrum (P = 0.097 and P = 0.094 for ALA vs. placebo). The changes in cardiovascular autonomic symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups during the period studied. No differences between the groups were noted regarding the rates of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that treatment with ALA using a well-tolerated oral dose of 800 mg/day for 4 months may slightly improve CAN in NIDDM patients.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1996

Differences in the interaction of Escherichia coli RNase P RNA with tRNAs containing a short or a long extra arm.

The phosphorothioate footprinting technique was applied to the investigation of phosphate moieties in tRNA substrates involved in interactions with M1 RNA, the catalytic subunit of Escherichia coli RNase P. In general agreement with previous data, all affected sites were localized in acceptor stem and T arm. But the analyzed examples for class I (Saccharomyces cerevisiae pre-tRNA(Phe) with short variable arm) and class II tRNAs (E. coli pre-tRNA(Tyr) with large variable arm) revealed substantial differences. In the complex with pre-tRNA(Phe), protection was observed at U55, C56, and G57, along the top of the T loop in the tertiary structure, whereas in pre-tRNA(Tyr), the protected positions were G57, A58, and A59, at the bottom of the T loop. These differences suggest that the size of the variable arm affects the spatial arrangement of the T arm, providing a possible explanation for the discrepancy in reports about the D arm requirement in truncated tRNA substrates for eukaryotic RNase P enzymes. Enhanced reactivities were found near the junction of acceptor and T stem (U6, 7, 8 in pre-tRNA(Phe) and G7, U63, U64 in pre-tRNA(Tyr)). This indicates a partial unfolding of the tRNA structure upon complex formation with RNase P RNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Enzymatic synthesis of 2'-modified nucleic acids: identification of important phosphate and ribose moieties in RNase P substrates.

For the first time mosaic nucleic acids composed of 50% RNA and 50% DNA can be obtained as transcripts with T7 RNA polymerase. Two NTPs could be replaced simultaneously in a transcription reaction. This means more than 40 deoxynucleotides were inserted in one transcript. Previously, a maximum of two deoxynucleotides could be incorporated and 2'-O-methyl-NTPs were not substrates at all. We obtained reasonable transcript yields with a maximal level of 99% 2'-O-methyl-NTPs, and the products contained up to 58% 2'-O-methylnucleotides at more than 20 positions. Sequence-specific nucleotide incorporation was monitored by sequence ladders (partial alkali or iodine cleavage). No base misincorporations were detected with 100% dGTP, dCTP and dTTP, and with partial incorporation of dATP alpha S, 2'-O-methyl-GTP alpha S and 2'-O-methyl-CTP alpha S, whereas they were found with dATP, 2'-O-methyl-ATP alpha S and 2'-O-methyl-UTP alpha S. Quantitative data allow predetermined modification levels of partially modified transcripts. Highly modified transcripts can be used for structural and functional studies, in modification interference approaches and for in vitro evolution procedures. Modification interference studies revealed a small number of important phosphate and ribose moieties in RNase P substrates. The conversion of T7 RNA polymerase to a DNA polymerase extends the observation that there is no absolute distinction between RNA and DNA polymerases. Accordingly, an adapted concept of a primordial RNA world is presented.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Neopterin and prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Concentrations of neopterin, a sensitive indicator for the activation of cellular immunity, were measured in urine samples of 44 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon at diagnosis. To judge the relative predictive value of neopterin concentrations, other routine clinical and laboratory variables were concomitantly determined. The patients were then followed up to 10 yr, and the abilities of all variables to predict death from cancer were assessed. Neopterin concentrations were not correlated with either tumor stage or Dukes' stage. In univariate analyses using the product-limit approach, four variables were significant indicators of poor prognosis: presence of distant metastases (P = 0.0001); high Dukes' stage (P = 0.0009); high urinary neopterin concentration (P = 0.0034); and advanced stage (P = 0.030). Presence versus absence of lymph node metastases was not associated with prognosis. Multivariate survival analyses by the proportional hazards technique demonstrated that neopterin provided statistically independent predictive information in addition to either presence versus absence of distant metastases or Dukes' stage. When neopterin and tumor stage were investigated for joint prediction, stage failed to be included in the model. Thus, neopterin concentrations provide valuable and statistically independent prognostic information in patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Endotoxin effects on transmesothelial transport and intracellular uptake of albumin.

With a 2.9-mM concentration of unlabelled bovine serum albumin (BSA), the FITC-albumin transport (2 mg included) across the omental monolayer (0.48 +/- 0.16 mg/ml/30 min) was found to be significantly reduced as compared with the interstitial BSA concentration (290 microM) as it is the case, e.g., in peritonitis (0.79 +/- 0.09 mg/ml/30 min). Adding 10 micrograms lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ml from Escherichia coli, serotype 0128:B12, we did not see any differences from the control. Cultured mesothelial cells took up double the amount of FITC-albumin (4.2 +/- 0.13 micrograms/10(5) cells/30 min) and in the presence of LPS the uptake of FITC-albumin was reduced to half the control (2.15 +/- 0.47 micrograms/10(5) cells/30 min). The results reveal the active participation of the mesothelium because high concentrations of BSA reduced exocytosis and stimulated endocytosis. Applying 10 micrograms/ml of LPS turned out to influence endocytosis and to reduce it at a high BSA concentration.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Tumor markers in the upper intestinal tract--stomach and pancreas].

Expectations of early diagnosis of carcinoma of the stomach and pancreas by using the tumour markers CEA and CA 19-9 have been disappointed. Although the sensitivity of CA 19-9 for pancreatic cancer is high, its field of application for screening is not efficient due to poor specificity of the marker. CEA and CA 19-9 are of great importance in the follow-up of pancreatic cancer. Results of tests of CEA and CA 19-9 in 100 patients with gastric cancer and 50 patients suffering from pancreatic cancer are reported.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1987

[New therapeutic aspects in the treatment of diffuse peritonitis].

The diffuse peritonitis is a syndrome during the course of which biochemical reactive chains are activated according to a cascade principle. Most of these biochemical reactive chains develop within an acid environment. The solutions applied for abdominal lavage so far had neutral pH value. The present acute peritonitis experiment has shown that a peritoneal pH increase during lavage therapy stopped the septic reactive chain and thus improved significantly the rate of survival in the test animals. These experimental findings ar now subject for clinical examination.

Animals↗