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Biomedical subjects

H Dressler

Publications and source records attributed to H Dressler.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

The impact of laparoscopic biopsy of pancreatic lymph nodes with helium and carbon dioxide on port site and liver metastasis in BOP-induced pancreatic cancer in hamster.

The influence of pancreatic biopsy during laparoscopy with carbon dioxide (CO2) and helium on the incidence of port site and liver metastasis in pancreatic carcinoma is still unknown. Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas was induced in Syrian hamsters (n = 30) by injection of N-nitrosobis-2-oxopropylamin (BOP, 10 mg/kg body weight/week) for 12 weeks. In week 13, hamsters were randomized in 3 groups (n = 10): While in group 1 (gr. 1) a laparotomy and biopsy of pancreatic lymph nodes was performed, gr. 2 and gr. 3 underwent a laparoscopic biopsy either with CO2 or helium. Therefore, one trocar was located in the left (biopsy) and the right abdominal wall (camera). In the 18th week all animals were sacrificed and the incidence of abdominal wall, port site and liver metastases was histologically determined. While there were abdominal wall metastases after laparotomy in 10% (n = 1), we observed trocar metastases in the CO2 group in 20% (n = 2). However, there were no trocar metastases in the helium group. The incidence of liver metastasis did not differ between the laparotomy and the helium group (20% vs 30%), but was increased in the CO2 group (60%). Laparoscopic biopsy of pancreatic lymph nodes with CO2 increased the incidence of port site and liver metastases in pancreatic cancer. The helium group was equal to the laparotomy group in this respect. Thus, staging laparoscopy with helium might become an alternative to explorative laparotomy in pancreatic cancer.

Animals↗

Therapeutic equivalence of single oral doses of dolasetron mesilate and multiple doses of ondansetron for the prevention of emesis after moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. European Dolasetron Comparative Study Group.

This multicentre, randomised, double-blind study was designed to compare the anti-emetic efficacy and safety of single oral doses of dolasetron mesilate with that of the approved oral, multiple-dose regimen of ondansetron in 399 cancer patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Single oral doses of 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg of dolasetron mesilate were administered 1 h prior to the initiation of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Multiple doses of ondansetron (8 mg x 3 or 8 mg x 4) capsules, or matching placebo for patients randomised to dolasetron, were given 1.5 h before and 6.5, 14.5 and 22.5 h after the start of chemotherapy (total dose = 32 mg). Efficacy was evaluated for 24 h after the initiation of chemotherapy. The most frequently used moderately emetogenic chemotherapeutic agents included cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and carboplatin (28.4, 23.1 and 20.6% of patients, respectively). A statistically significant (P < 0.001) linear dose-response relationship was observed over the entire dolasetron dosage range for all efficacy parameters. Complete response rates were 45.0, 49.4, 60.5 and 76.3% for 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg dolasetron mesilate, respectively, and 72.3% of ondansetron patients. A single oral 200 mg dolasetron mesilate dose was therapeutically equivalent to ondansetron for all efficacy parameters and patient satisfaction was high. Overall, there were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events between any of the dolasetron mesilate doses, or between dolasetron and ondansetron. Headache was most frequently reported (approximately 15% for each drug). No clinically important changes in vital signs or clinical laboratory parameters were observed with either drug. In conclusion, a single oral 200 mg dolasetron mesilate dose was therapeutically equivalent to multiple-dose ondansetron in the prevention of emesis and nausea following moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Expression of Thy-1/lacZ fusion genes in the CNS of transgenic mice.

Thy-1 is a cell surface glycoprotein of unknown function that is found on nerve cells and mature T-lymphocytes. To study the regulation of Thy-1 gene expression, mouse Thy-1.2 genomic sequences were joined to various marker sequences and the resulting chimeric constructs were used to produce nearly three dozen independent lines of transgenic mice. The starting point for our studies was an 8.2 kb EcoRI fragment that begins 1.7 kb 5' to the transcription start site and ends with 1.3 kb of 3' flanking sequences. Addition of a small marker oligonucleotide to the 3' untranslated region of this fragment had little or no effect on gene regulation. All of the lines derived from injection of this construct expressed the transgene in the appropriate tissues. Thus, as expected, the Thy-1.2 genomic fragment contains all of the information necessary for tissue-specific, position-independent expression of the modified transgene. Unexpectedly, Thy-1/lacZ hybrid genes did not mimic this behavior. Using either mRNA or histochemical detection of lacZ protein, these constructs were expressed in patterns that varied dramatically from line to line. This behavior suggests that integration site-specific effects dominate the cis-active Thy-1 regulatory elements leading to wide variability of expression. This is further emphasized by the observation that the bacterial reporter protein was found in a few non-neuronal cell-types, in contrast to the known pattern of native Thy-1 expression. These results suggest that either the Thy-1.2 sequences which are necessary for appropriate brain-specific expression are not contained solely within the proposed CNS enhancer in the first intron, or that fusion of the Thy-1.2 sequences with the lacZ coding region may disrupt normal Thy-1 regulatory signals (or result in the creation of new regulatory elements).

Aging↗

[Local therapy of grade 1 and 2 hemorrhoids. Effectiveness of a combination preparation with standardized blood leech extract].

AIMS: Testing the effectiveness of a topical combination preparation containing standardized leech extract, polidocanol and allantoin. STUDY DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, double-blind study in 80 patients with first and second degree hemorrhoids; duration of treatment one week; examinations performed on admission and on days 3, 4, 5 and 8. RESULTS: Both the subjective and objective symptoms and signs improved during the one week of treatment statistically significantly more rapidly under the test preparation as compared with placebo. Histologically demonstrable signs of inflammation were more clearly improved in the preparation group than in the placebo group. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The good efficacy and tolerability of a topical therapeutic preparation in first and second degree hemorrhoids have been convincingly demonstrated.

Allantoin↗

Expression and regulation of a proenkephalin beta-galactosidase fusion gene in the reproductive system of transgenic mice.

A fusion gene containing 3 kilobases of human proenkephalin 5'-flanking sequences and 1 kilobase of human proenkephalin 3'-flanking sequence and the easily visualized histochemical marker, Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase, was used to study the function of cis-regulatory elements within the human proenkephalin gene in transgenic mice. Here data are presented on expression and regulation of this fusion gene in the reproductive system of three independent lines of transgenic mice. Within the male reproductive system, the fusion gene is expressed in the proximal epididymis and in developing germinal cells but not in mature or elongating spermatids. In the female reproductive system, the transgene was expressed at low basal levels, but expression was dramatically stimulated in the ovary and oviduct by hormonal stimulation and pregnancy; additionally, expression was induced at the uteroplacental junction in pregnant mice. Taken together these observations suggest that critical sequences for expression and regulation of the proenkephalin gene within the reproductive system are contained within sequences of the construct.

Animals↗

pGSTag--a versatile bacterial expression plasmid for enzymatic labeling of recombinant proteins.

We report on the construction of a plasmid, pGSTag, that directs the expression in E. coli of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein that contains a high affinity phosphorylation site by protein kinase-A (PK-A). The fusion protein, following purification from crude bacterial lysates by substrate affinity chromatography, can be labeled in vitro to high specific activity with purified PK-A and 32P-gamma-ATP. Because labeling takes place while the fusion protein is immobilized on a solid support, the unincorporated label and enzyme can be washed away. Using the leucine-zipper domains of cAMP response element binding (CREB) proteins and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-like proteins as a model system, we show that the labeled protein, after elution from the affinity resin, can be used as a probe to detect interacting (dimerizing) species in a nitrocellulose-based ligand blot assay. The utility of this system for the creation of labeled protein probes is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone on the autonomic innervation of the isolated heart.

Enoximone is a selective inhibitor of a low Km, cyclic AMP-specific type of phosphodiesterase (PDE III). In guinea pig and chicken atria, enoximone (0.1-100 mumol/L) caused a weak increase in the force of contraction. The heart rate was slightly enhanced or was unchanged (chicken). Enoximone (30 mumol/L) also failed to shift the concentration-response curves for the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of norepinephrine in guinea pig atria. Under almost the same conditions, enoximone and the nonselective PDE inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) markedly potentiated the forskolin-induced mobilization of choline from phospholipids. The concentrations of IBMX (100 mumol/L) and of enoximone (50 mumol/L) used were equieffective and did not enhance choline mobilization by themselves. Cardioinhibition caused by acetylcholine was unaffected by enoximone. In perfused guinea pig hearts, the release of [3H]norepinephrine evoked by field stimulation (5 Hz) was increased by 50 mumol/L enoximone both in the absence and presence of cocaine plus corticosterone. In contrast, enoximone failed to alter the release of acetylcholine in chicken hearts at rest and during field stimulation (5 Hz), which directly depolarizes the intrinsic post-ganglionic nerves. Similar results were obtained in guinea pig hearts using [3H]acetylcholine. In contrast, when the release of labeled or unlabeled acetylcholine was evoked by (preganglionic) vagal stimulation, enoximone (30 and 50 mumol/L) and IBMX (50 mumol/L) reduced the release in both species. Taken together, enoximone and IBMX apparently reduced ganglionic transmission. The results further indicate functional compartmentalization of PDE III in guinea pig myocardial cells. PDE III appears to be involved in the regulation of myocardial choline-phospholipid hydrolysis and of norepinephrine release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

[Comparative clinical trial of a new trihalogenated dermatocorticoid (halometasone) versus betamethasone dipropionate].

In a multicenter controlled study carried out in Austria and Switzerland by 8 dermatologists in 208 patients with acute eczematous dermatoses, 0.05% halometasone cream proved to have significantly superior clinical efficacy than 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate cream (P much less than 0.05) showing an equal tolerability. Good to very good results were reported in 93% of the patients treated with halometasone and in 84% of those treated with betamethasone dipropionate creams (Diprosone, Diproderm). General tolerability of both treatments was good. Neither skin atrophy nor any systemic adverse effect, due to the transcutaneous absorption of the corticoids, were observed in this study.

Administration, Topical↗

[Evaluation by means of ECG-gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy of global and regional left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease (author's transl)].

ECG-gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy permits a non-invasive determination of the end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular volumes and of the ejection fraction as well as a qualitative description of regional ventricular wall motion at rest and during excercise. In 6 healthy persons a significant increase of the ejection fraction from 66 +/- 7% at rest to 78 +/- 3% during exercise (p less than 0.01) was observed. In contrast, the ejection fraction decreased in 15 out of 18 patients with coronary artery disease, with a significant (p less than 0.01) difference between patients with and without angina pectoris. Thus, the ejection fraction fell in 12 patients without angina during excercise from 60 +/- 11% to 52 +/- 11% (p less than 0.05) whereas in 6 patients with angina a decrease from 61 +/- 7% to 30 +/- 8% (p less than 0.01) was observed. This non-invasive technique makes it possible to demonstrate in a simple and safe manner changes of cardiac function during excercise in patients with coronary artery disease.

Adolescent↗