Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Grabner.
Ataxia telangiectasia (Louis-Bar syndrome) represents a disease of childhood, characterized by diffuse telangiectasia of the skin and the conjunctivae and cerebellar ataxia. Patients are frequently predisposed for infections due to disturbances of the cellular and humoral immunity. This paper discusses the syndrome referring to an own observation of ataxia telangiectasia and literature of the past.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
16 renal transplant recipients underwent ophthalmological examination 11.4, 19.4 and 61.3 months after renal transplantation. The most common side effects of immunosuppressive therapy were steroid-induced cataract formation, steroid glaucoma, and recurrent subconjunctival haemorrhages. Posterior sub-capsular cataracts may develop as early as 2 months after surgery, reach their highest incidence within 2 years and may be reversible under low dosage steroid therapy. 75.5% of 57 ophthalmologically examined patients showed ocular complications or changes, but visual function was not severely disturbed. Despite hypertension in 23 cases, no hypertensive retinopathy was observed. In the light of these findings we assume that kidney transplantation has a positive influence on ocular functions, and especially on fundus changes dating from the time of regular dialysis treatment.
The comparison of the HLA A, B, and C phenotypes of 70 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with the phenotypes of 450 healthy control individuals and the rather discordant data published by other investigators show that there is no genetical influence of HLA A, HLA B, or HLA C genes on POAG and on the clinical complications associated with this disease.
In aqueous humors and sera from 44 patients with cataracts, albumin, IgG, and alpha-1-antitrypsin were measured using radial immunodiffusion. The mean concentrations of the three proteins were significantly smaller than values found in aqueous humors taken post mortem, but corresponded well to values found in cerebrospinal fluid. No statistically significant difference was found between men and women, normotensives and hypertensives, and patients with or without myopia of high degree (greater than 6 diopters). A slight increase in protein concentrations in older patients and a relative decrease of alpha-1-antitrypsin is described. The aqueous humor-serum quotients of the different proteins showed a higher correlation than did the concentration of the proteins in aqueous humors.
Doppler Ultrasonography of the orbital vessels is a simple non invasive technique for the qualitative determination of velocity and direction of blood flow within the supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries. In temporal arteritis characteristic findings can be obtained with this method. The amplitudes of ultrasonograms are markedly reduced and the waveforms considerably distorted. Sometimes there is a complete absence of velocity signals from the orbital vessels. When the superficial temporal artery is compressed abnormal reactions are almost always elicited, whereas the compression of the homolateral carotid artery yields normal results. In temporal arteritis, the diagnostic value of Doppler ultrasonography of orbital vessels seems about as great as that of Hager ophtalmodynamography.
The effect of a portocaval shunt with and without portal arterialization of the liver on serum immunoglobulin concentrations and on the incidence of antibodies to 8 different serotypes of Escherichia coli was studied in 29 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Compared with healthy controls, the serum concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients. No difference in immunoglobulin concentrations could be observed between shunted and arterialized cirrhotics. The incidence of E. coli antibodies was significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis of the liver, showing a further increase in patients with portocaval shunt operations. Portal arterialization of the liver after portocaval shunting did prevent this additional increase, presumably by restoring the antigen clearing capacity of the cirrhotic liver, thus avoiding an additional stimulation of the antigen response after the portocaval shunt. The quantitative contribution of E. coli antibodies to the hyperimmunoglobulinemia of patients with cirrhosis of the liver seems to be of little significance. The results of this study underline the significance of the portal hepatic blood flow for the function of the reticulo-endothelial system of the liver.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Side effects of pentagastrin were registered in 50 patients before application of a gastric suction drainage tube, during the basal secretion period as well as after injection of 6 microgram/kg pentagastrin resp. 1 ml of physiological saline. Discrete symptoms occurred significantly more frequently after pentagastrin application: 28% of patients complained about nausea, 24% about tremor, 22% about hot feeling. These sensations occurred immediately after injection and continued for several minutes. In 4 persons the test had to be stopped because of collapse. There was no correlation between the frequency of symptoms, age of the patient, sex or gastric acidity. Causal relationships to lowering of blood pressure or changes of gastrointestinal motility are discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
With Doppler ultrasonography of the orbit the blood flow in the supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries can be determined transcutaneously. The technique yields reliable informations about the state of the carotid system. It is especially suitable for assessing carotid obstruction. Besides it has proved to be of particular diagnostic value in temporal arteritis. The authors describe and discuss the technique of orbital Doppler ultrasonography and present typical findings in carotid lesions and in temporal arteritis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In 41 patients with open-angle glaucoma and 450 healthy, unrelated controls of identical ethnic origin the frequencies of 36 HLA antigens were determined using the microlymphocytotoxicity test. In contrast to recent publications it was not possible to confirm a significant difference in the incidence of the antigens in both groups. The possible reasons for this difference are discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A New Antihypertensive of the Imidazoline Series: 5-Fluoro-2-methyl-imidazolidinylidene-benzamine-monohydrochloride. 5-Fluoro-2-methyl-imidazolidinylidene-benzamine-hydrochloride (flutonidin, ST 600), a new antihypertensive imidazoline compound, was tested over 3 weeks in 20 patients with moderate to severe hypertension. Blood pressure was significantly lowered in both supine and upright position. In nearly 2/3 of the patients treated normalization of blood pressure was achieved. Side effects like sedation, dry mouth or orthostatic complaints were present in 30%. Toxic effects were not registered. It is recommended to reduce the dosage slowly especially in the aged to prevent, in part severe findings after abrupt withdrawal.
The effect of orally ingested 5,1-dihydroxy-11- (4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-acetyl-6H-pyrido(2,3-b)-I, 4-benzodiazepin-6-one dihydrochloride (LS 519, pirenzepine), a newly developed compound with gastric secretion-inhibitory action but without central-nervous sedation, on the secretion of fluid into the duodenum and on pancreatic enzyme output was studied by a marker perfusion technique in 10 human subjects. A short-lasting increase in duodenal volume was observed, while output of trypsin and lipase remained unchanged. Central and autonomic nervous actions seem unlikely, a possible release of endogenous secretion was discussed.tin was discussed.
Neurological disturbances were seen in patients who underwent open heart surgery with prolonged extracorporeal circulation. These were found mainly in patients older than 50 years and when episodes of hypotension lower than 50 mm Hg occurred during cardiopulmonary perfusion. A method of recognizing cerebral hypoperfusion would be most helpful to prevent brain damage. According to the experimental and clinical findings of Hager the method of ophthalmodynamography allows some conclusion of analogy in relation to the reaction of the brain vessels. The intraoperative ophthalmodynamogram was recorded in 8 patients undergoing surgery using extracorporeal circulation. The ophthalmodynamograms seen during surgery on the beating heart showed changes associated with surgical manipulation. When the arterial pressure fell the orbital pulsation was decreased. The orbital pulsation stopped when the spontaneous heat beat was replaced by extracorporeal circulation. There was no change attributable to the perfusion pressure produced by the roller pump. Cessation of the orbital oscilogram during extracorporeal circulation does not indicate a cerebral hypoperfusion. No neurological lesion was seen in our patients. We were able to show that amplitude of the ophthalmodynamogram is influenced more by the blood pressure amplitued than the mean arterial pressure.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.