Biomedical subjects

F Zimmer

Publications and source records attributed to F Zimmer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Sagnac interferometry based on ultraslow polaritons in cold atomic vapors.

The advantages of light and matter-wave Sagnac interferometers--large area on one hand and high rotational sensitivity per unit area on the other--can be combined utilizing ultraslow light in cold atomic gases. While a group-velocity reduction alone does not affect the Sagnac phase shift, the associated momentum transfer from light to atoms generates a coherent matter-wave component which gives rise to a substantially enhanced rotational signal. It is shown that matter-wave sensitivity in a large-area interferometer can be achieved if an optically dense vapor at subrecoil temperatures is used. Already a noticeable enhancement of the Sagnac phase shift is possible, however, with far fewer cooling requirements.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1984

Apolipoprotein E phenotypes in patients with myocardial infarction.

The frequencies of genetic apo E isoforms E2, E3 and E4 were determined in 523 patients with myocardial infarction and compared to those in a control group (1031 blood donors). A significant difference in the frequency of apo E4 was noted between patients and controls (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.025). No differences in the frequencies of isoforms E3 and E2 were observed. In particular, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of apo E2 homozygosity, a condition that is associated with type III hyperlipoproteinemia. However, all E2 homozygote survivors of myocardial infarction had hyperlipoproteinemia type III (cholesterol 269 +/- 29 mg/dl; triglyceride 419 +/- 150 mg/dl; age 54 +/- 14 years; N = 5). On the contrary, E2 homozygote controls (all apo E-2/2 blood donors and their apo E-2/2 relatives who were from the same age range as the patients) had primary dysbetalipoproteinemia but normal or subnormal plasma cholesterol concentrations (cholesterol 184 +/- 28 mg/dl; triglyceride 151 +/- 52 mg/dl; age 56 +/- 13 years; N = 11). This indicates that E2 homozygotes with hyperlipoproteinemia type III who occur rarely in the population but comprise about 1% of myocardial infarction patients have a markedly increased risk for coronary atherosclerosis, whereas the risk for E2 homozygotes with normal or subnormal plasma cholesterol (= primary dysbetalipoproteinemia) may be considerably lower than for the general population. The data illustrate the complex relationship between apo E genes, lipid levels, and risk for atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

Apolipoprotein AIMarburg: studies on two kindreds with a mutant of human apolipoprotein AI.

Three probands heterozygous for a mutant of apolipoprotein AI (apo AIMarburg, Utermann et al. 1982a) were detected by screening of 2282 unrelated individuals resulting an a frequency estimate of about 1/750 in the German population. All three probands with apo AIMarburg had hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride above 250 mg/dl) and subnormal HDL-cholesterol (below 30 mg/dl), but no other lipoprotein abnormalities. The kindreds of two probands with AIMarburg were studied. The family data are consistent with an autosomal codominant inheritance of the trait. A total of 16 heterozygous blood relatives with the mutant AIMarburg were detected in these kindreds. Analysis of the plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in relation to the apo AI phenotype was complicated by the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease in one kindred and of hyperlipidemia in both kindreds. No consistent relationship between plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels, and the mutant apo AI could be demonstrated. Instead the mutant apo AI and the dyslipoproteinemia seem to co-exist independently in these kindreds. Three sibs with the homozygous apo E-2/2 phenotype were detected in one kindred, and all three sibs had subnormal LDL-cholesterol and beta-VLDL, e.g., the lipoprotein abnormality characterizing primary dysbetalipoproteinemia. Genetic apo E phenotypes and the apo AI mutant segregated independently, indicating that the structural gene loci for apo E and apo AI are not closely linked.

Adult↗

PubMed1980

[Problems arising from the interruption of pregnancy].

The extent of complications after artificial abortion is widely underestimated. In an advanced state of pregnancy - after the 16th week - there is one maternal death per 5300 abortions. The rate of complications and mortality depends on the duration of the pregnancy. Psychic disturbances, and even thoughts of suicide, must not be neglected. Manyfold problems arise for the doctor advising an artificial abortion. He is expected to decide whether the care of a sick and defect child would be an unbearable burden for the mother. Not less difficult is the estimation of an "inescapable distress" (unabwendbare Notlage), as it is formulated in the penal code of the Germany Federal Republic.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1980

[The LDL-HDL ratio in patients with coronary arteriosclerosis (author's transl)].

In 171 patients with coronary arteriosclerosis the severity of the angiographic findings was assessed by the score of Friesinger. The total serum cholesterol concentration showed an only weak positive correlation with the extent of coronary arteriosclerosis. In contrast, a strict correlation could be documented with the LDL-HDL ratio. The LDL-HDL ratio was 1.49 in the control group with angiographically free coronary arteries, 1.95 in patients with an angiographic score of 1-5, 2.39 at a score of 6-10, and 2.75 at a score of 11-15. The corresponding total serum cholesterol values (control group: 219 mg/100 ml) were 229 mg/100 ml, 242 mg/100 ml and 258 mg/100 ml. Especially at still normal serum cholesterol concentrations an already pathological shift in the lipoprotein pattern in correlation with the extent of coronary arteriosclerosis was indicated by the LDL-HDL ratio. Thus a greater predictive power for coronary risk is attributed to the LDL-HDL ratio rather than to the total serum cholesterol concentration.

Cholesterol↗

PubMed1974