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Biomedical subjects

G Kleber

Publications and source records attributed to G Kleber.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Prophylaxis of first variceal hemorrhage in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Prophylaxis of bleeding from esophageal varices is a very tempting concept at first glance, especially under the assumption of a high mortality associated with first variceal hemorrhage. Up to now four different measures have been tried for prophylaxis: portacaval shunt operation, devascularization procedures, sclerotherapy, and drugs. With the exception of portacaval shunts, ongoing controlled trials show a weak trend toward reduction of variceal bleeding and prolongation of survival in selected patients with compensated cirrhosis and large varices. However, prophylaxis of first variceal bleeding must still be regarded as experimental and should be restricted to controlled clinical studies.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Caffeine elimination: a test of liver function.

Fasting plasma caffeine concentration and various parameters of caffeine elimination from plasma obtained after a standardized oral dose of 140 mg caffeine have been compared in nine patients with liver cirrhosis, eight patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease and ten healthy volunteers with regard to their ability to discriminate between the different groups. Fasting plasma caffeine concentrations were significantly higher in cirrhotics (11.1 +/- 10.5 mumol/l) than in healthy volunteers (1.5 +/- 0.8 mumol/l). The respective values measured in patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease (3.1 +/- 3.1 mumol/l) did not differ significantly from the controls. Plasma disappearance rate and clearance of caffeine were significantly decreased in cirrhotics (0.11 +/- 0.02 h-1; 1.0 +/- 0.3 ml/min per kg) and in patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease (0.18 +/- 0.04 h-1; 2.2 +/- 0.7 ml/min per kg) as compared to healthy volunteers (0.23 +/- 0.04 h-1; 3.1 +/- 0.9 ml/min per kg). Plasma caffeine concentration determined 12 h after administration of the test dosage discriminated best between patients with cirrhosis (5.4 +/- 1.6 mumol/l), patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease (2.0 +/- 1.4 mumol/l) and healthy volunteers (0.8 +/- 0.2 mumol/l). These results, the safety of the test compound and the simplicity of a single caffeine determination in plasma 12 h after a standardized dose of caffeine make this test attractive for evaluation of liver function.

Adult↗

Pro-opiocortin fragments in human and rat brain: beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH are the predominant peptides.

The 'pro-opiocortin' fragments, beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphin, ACTH and alpha-MSH, were estimated in discrete areas of rat and human brain and pituitaries by means of radioimmunoassay in combination with gelfiltration. These peptides exhibited parallel patterns of distribution, but with beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH predominant in the brain of rat and man, and, in contrast, their respective precursors. beta-LPH and ACTH predominant in the adenohypophysis of rat and man. These data may be indicative of important differences in post-translational processing of 'pro-opiocortin' between these contrasting tissues.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Elevated plasma and tissue concentrations of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin associated with an ectopic ACTH-producing lung tumor.

beta-Endorphin- and ACTH-like immunoreactive peptides were measured in plasma and certain tissues of a patient suffering from an oat-cell-carcinoma of the lungs and Cushing's syndrome. Using sensitive radioimmunoassays in combination with gel-filtration, highly elevated levels of beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) and ACTH were found.

ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic↗

Extrahypothalamic corticotropin and alpha-melanotropin in human brain.

The distribution of corticotropin (ACTH) and alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) in human brain was investigated by radioimmunoassay using an antiserum which recognized h-ACTH1-39 and alpha-MSH to an equal degree on a molar basis. Significant amounts of material, which migrated on calibrated Sephadex G-50 columns as synthetic h-ACTH1-39 and synthetic alpha-MSH, were detected in distinct brain areas. The highest concentrations of ACTH and alpha-MSH were found in the diencephalon (hypothalamus 4.2 and 12.5 pmol/g wet weight, respectively) and in midbrain (periaqueductal gray 0.5 and 1.7 pmol/g, respectively) and smaller quantities in the rhombencephalon and telencephalon. The ACTH concentration in human pituitary (adenohypophysis) was 10(4)-fold greater than that in the hypothalamus. alpha-MSH was confined to the midpart and/or stalk region of the pituitary.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Computed tomography in pneumatosis intestinalis: differential diagnosis and therapeutic consequences.

Case reports of five patients with pneumatosis intestinalis diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) are presented. Etiology, differential diagnoses, and clinical consequences arising from CT imaging are discussed. In four of the patients, pneumatosis was found to be secondary to gastric ulcer, colon carcinoma, metastasis in the mesentery, and trauma-induced mesenteric ischemia. In one patient, the etiology remained elusive. Using CT, both the extent and the distribution pattern of pneumatosis could be depicted, allowing for differentiation of primary and secondary forms and assessment of prognosis. Evaluation with a lung window is a pre-requisite for reliable diagnosis of pneumatosis with CT. The presence of gas in the mesenteric or portal venous system in mesenteric ischemia is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis.

Aged↗

Neuraminidase antibodies in serum and nasal washings after immunization by means of live and killed whole virion, split virion and subunit (HA and N) influenza vaccines.

Anti-neuraminidase antibody (ANAB) formation was determined in serum and nasal washing fluids pre- and post-vaccination in 278 adult healthy volunteers vaccinated with different types of current experimental and conventional influenza vaccines. The best systemic ANAB formation expressed as conversion rate (CR) was observed with the subunit vaccine "Sandovac" (CR = 90%) followed by the split virion vaccine "Begrivac S" (CR = 66%), the whole virion vaccine "Alorbat" (CR = 65%) and the live attenuated vaccine "Alice" (CR = 58%). The best local ANAB formation was obtained with live attenuated vaccines (CR = 47-50%) followed by "Begrivac S" (CR = 34%) and "Alorbat" (CR = 17%). The subunit vaccine, unfortunately, could not be tested for ANAB formation. On the basis of this data the optimal method of immunization against influenza would consist of simultaneous topical and parenteral application of live attenuated and inactivated subunit or split vaccine.

Administration, Intranasal↗